America’s sports obsession is real and something that doesn’t go unnoticed around the country. There are two types of sports in the US: professional sports and amateur sports. The market for professional sports in the United States is estimated to be around $69 billion (Wikipedia). Amateur sports are also played on a large scale with a lot of team activities as well as solo sports.
Sports are the ultimate pastime activities for the US locals. However, more and more young people are opting for sports as a career because of the trending opportunities in vast sports. There is high TV sports viewership and internet sports enthusiasts who watch live matches online and go on discussion forums.
Locals also regularly watch their favorite sports and players in person – thereby, increasing the physical attendance of these sports. There are fixed seasons for these popular sports in which games are held in different stadiums and arenas situated across the country. It has been recorded that a majority of 70% of Americans watch live sports, and are loyal fans of different top American sports such as American football, basketball, hockey, and baseball.
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Why is America so ‘sports-obsessed’?
Sports are all about the excitement and hype that comes from engaging in it and watching it. There is a reason why Americans are so sports-obsessed.
Sports culture is booming in the US with more and more formation of leagues and sports. The major four leagues that have been established are some of the oldest played sports in America. These are the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), and National Hockey League (NHL).
The intriguing competition is what makes these team sports so popular. These are also long-played sports in America with a rich history and multiple sports traditions.
The most popular team sports in the United States are American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, and soccer. These are famous sports with a massive fan following and physical as well as television viewership. They are also played by millions of Americans at the collegiate level and as recreational sports.
Fun fact: American players have bagged a total of 2,673 medals at the Summer Olympic Games and 305 medals at the Winter Olympic Games. This has marked the US being the highest medal-winning country in the Olympic games.
THE 10 MOST POPULAR U.S. SPORTS LEAGUES TO WATCH
| # | Top Sports Leagues | Answer in % |
| 1 | Football, NFL (National Football League) | 65% |
| 2 | Basketball, NBA (National Basketball Association) | 51% |
| 3 | Baseball, MLB (Major League Baseball) | 42% |
| 4 | Football, NCAA College Football | 30% |
| 5 | Basketball, NCAA College Basketball (Men and Women) | 25% |
| 6 | Auto racing, NASCAR | 24% |
| 7 | Hockey, NHL (National Hockey League) | 20% |
| 8 | Auto racing, Formula 1 | 17% |
| 9 | Combat Sports, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) | 17% |
| 10 | Combat Sports, Bellator MMA (Bellator Mixed Martial Arts) | 13% |
Frequently asked questions about American sports
Q. What are the 4 big four leagues?
The big four are referred to as the professional sports leagues: MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL.
Q. What is America’s national sport?
Though it is the unofficial national sport of America, baseball is regarded as the national pastime sport.
Q. What is America’s top sport?
American football is the most popular sport in the US
Q. What is the hardest American sport?
Boxing is considered to be the hardest American sport.
Q. Who is the oldest NBA player?
LeBron James is the oldest and one of the greatest NBA athletes of all time.
Author’s opinion
There is no stopping anytime to America’s sports obsession and it is highly likely that it will just increase over time! This is because the American sports’ traditions and access to technology make these sports ever so popular! What I have found interesting is that all the big leagues and the most popular sports that are viewed and loved by the US locals are team sports. The teamwork and the rivalry are what make it surely so interesting to watch!
