Most Popular Sports in America

There are a few sports which are universally acknowledged as being the most popular sports in America. These sports occupy a place of prominence in our culture; and if you don't follow the sports world particularly closely, you might be surprised at which sports are in the top tier with US sports fans. Keep reading for a quick look at which sports currently rule the roost.

In professional sports, the most obvious answer is the National Football League. The NFL is by far the most popular sporting enterprise in this country and it occupies a great deal of everyone's attention. Pro football really started to make a dent into the scene in the 1950s and 1960s and today it outshines everything else. Of course, the Super Bowl is annually the most watched television event in the country.

One sport which many may be surprised to see among the most popular is NASCAR racing. While once a regional sport with a limited audience almost entirely in the south, it has entered the mainstream in the past few decades. NASCAR races now regularly draw audiences of over 100,000 and have a large television viewing audience all over the country.

You might also be surprised to learn that another of the most popular sports in America is UFC mixed martial arts (MMA). A sport which some people haven't even yet heard of, MMA has gone from obscurity to being one of the most popular sports among the coveted youth demographic. MMA is a fast paced, intense and violent sport which has a lot of appeal to the young.

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.

Moving to the collegiate and amateur realm, the most popular sport is NCAA football. The top universities have legions of diehard fans, supporters and boosters. And in towns and regions where there are no pro teams - and even in some where there are many - the college football team takes on enormous civil and social importance. The bowl season is one of the most cherished times in sports, although the lack of a playoff structure has hindered the popularity of college football in recent times.

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.

American sports have something to offer just about every fan. From hockey to mixed martial arts, NASCAR racing to the NFL, fans can find plenty to enjoy. The most popular sports in America may not have turned out to be the ones you expected, but sports wax and wane in popularity; adapting to change is part of what makes America great. In a few years time, this list may have changed but the world of sports is always changing - the only constant is the enthusiasm of the fans for competitive sports.