The Most Popular Sports in America In Todays History | Lifestyle

by DeniseISmithson

The most popular sports in America may not necessarily be the sports you'd think of as enjoying a place in the top tier of US sports. If you're not a regular follower of American athletics, you could be in for a bit of a shock to learn that things have changed a lot in the last two to three decades. For a look at which sports are the most popular with fans in the US, read on.

The most popular American sport of all is most likely exactly what you'd guess. NFL football has been the biggest sport in America since the 1960s and the Super Bowl is the single most popular television event in America, with the playoff games not far behind. The NFL has enjoyed nationwide popularity for a long time and at least for the foreseeable future, it doesn't seem as if anything will change.

It may come as a surprise to see that NASCAR is now among the most popular sports in America. In a few decades time, NASCAR has gone from being a minor sport with a small, almost entirely regional audience to being incredibly popular all over the country. Drawing crowds of more than 100,000 to events and an even larger television audience, the sport has managed to become one with mainstream popularity.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is another of the most popular sports in America and one which would surprise many to learn is now in the top tier. MMA is a newer sport, but the efforts of the UFC (the official MMA organization) have brought the sport to a large and loyal audience in very little time. With a large following among the highly desirable youth demographic, the sport appeals to young people's interest in violence, intensity and fast paced action.

Rounding out the top tier are NBA basketball and Major League Baseball. Neither of these sports is as popular as they once were, but both still enjoy a fan base which numbers in the millions. Golf, hockey and tennis have slipped into the second tier, having become sports for smaller niche markets of loyal fans.

College sports are unsurprisingly among the most popular sports in America. The most popular of college sports is football, with each university having its own fan base of diehard supporters. The most popular of these college teams enjoy a national fan base and in cities and states with no NFL franchises, college teams enjoy a particularly important position. Even cities with NFL teams have many loyal college football fans - Baltimore sports fans are equally loyal to their beloved Maryland Terrapins as they are to the Ravens. College bowl games are especially big with fans, even with the playoffs lacking a truly cohesive structure.

College basketball is slightly less popular than college football, but this sport can boast of the second most viewed series of events after the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl, March Madness. Millions of people all over the country take part in betting pools (seemingly the one occasion where sports betting is socially acceptable). Each year offers the thrill of seeing underdogs pull off stunning upsets and careers in pro basketball beginning to take shape.

As you can see, the diversity of our most popular sports is very great. From car racing to fighting, from football to basketball, from pro to amateur, there is a sport for everybody. The most popular sports in America may be different from what you expected to see, but the list is dynamic and always changing. Who knows what the next trend or the next several years will bring to the forefront of our attention.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

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