Most popular sports in America

[manchild98]

Pro football is the most popular sport in America for at least the 30th straight year.

That's according to a survey taken this month by the Harris Poll, which has been asking adult fans, ages 18 and over, about their favorite sport since 1985.

In 2014, 35 percent of fans call the NFL their favorite sport, followed by Major League Baseball (14 percent), college football (11 percent), auto racing (7 percent), the NBA (6 percent), the NHL (5 percent) and college basketball (3 percent).

In 1985, the first year the poll was taken, the NFL bested MLB by just one percentage point (24 to 23 percent), but since then interest in baseball has fallen while the NFL has experienced a huge rise in popularity.

Nine percent fewer fans call baseball their favorite sport over the 30-year span, the biggest drop of any sport. The polling numbers suggest that the sport hasn't been able to recover from a popularity standpoint from 1994, when a strike forced the cancellation of the World Series.

One other significant drop was in professional golf. Throughout Tiger Woods' pro career, which began in 1996, no less four percent of the U.S. adult population called golf their favorite sport. But since 2010, the first year after Woods' extramarital affair scandal, only two percent of Americans have called it their favorite sport.

A sport's popularity varies greatly based on demographics. More people who live in rural areas on the East coast say they're fans of the NFL than the general U.S. population. Those with an annual household income of more than $100,000 are more likely to be baseball fans, while African Americans are less likely to enjoy the sport, the poll reveals. More southerners call college football their favorite sport, while those with a high school education or less tend to gravitate to auto racing.

[Havlicekstealsit]

"while those with a high school education or less tend to gravitate to auto racing."

This confirms a common theory about Nascar fans.

[ripper76]

Pro football is the most popular sport in America for at least the 30th straight year.

That's according to a survey taken this month by the Harris Poll, which has been asking adult fans, ages 18 and over, about their favorite sport since 1985.

In 2014, 35 percent of fans call the NFL their favorite sport, followed by Major League Baseball (14 percent), college football (11 percent), auto racing (7 percent), the NBA (6 percent), the NHL (5 percent) and college basketball (3 percent).

In 1985, the first year the poll was taken, the NFL bested MLB by just one percentage point (24 to 23 percent), but since then interest in baseball has fallen while the NFL has experienced a huge rise in popularity.

Nine percent fewer fans call baseball their favorite sport over the 30-year span, the biggest drop of any sport. The polling numbers suggest that the sport hasn't been able to recover from a popularity standpoint from 1994, when a strike forced the cancellation of the World Series.

One other significant drop was in professional golf. Throughout Tiger Woods' pro career, which began in 1996, no less four percent of the U.S. adult population called golf their favorite sport. But since 2010, the first year after Woods' extramarital affair scandal, only two percent of Americans have called it their favorite sport.

A sport's popularity varies greatly based on demographics. More people who live in rural areas on the East coast say they're fans of the NFL than the general U.S. population. Those with an annual household income of more than $100,000 are more likely to be baseball fans, while African Americans are less likely to enjoy the sport, the poll reveals. More southerners call college football their favorite sport, while those with a high school education or less tend to gravitate to auto racing.

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[Incognito]

I'm shocked the NBA got even 6% most everyone I know hates NBA basketball.

[manchild98]

I'm shocked the NBA got even 6% most everyone I know hates NBA basketball.

The NBA is one of my least favorite sports but I was very surprised it was neck and neck with the NHL. I would have thought they had a larger lead.

[Havlicekstealsit]

I'm shocked the NBA got even 6% most everyone I know hates NBA basketball.

The NBA is one of my least favorite sports but I was very surprised it was neck and neck with the NHL. I would have thought they had a larger lead.

I thought I saw a story stating NHL games were out-selling NBA games this season.

[somberbostonian]

Baseball has been suffering from having an aging demographic for decades. The rise of the NFL, NBA, college football and men's basketball has given the younger generation more TV sports viewing options.

[somberbostonian]

I'm shocked the NBA got even 6% most everyone I know hates NBA basketball.

The NBA is one of my least favorite sports but I was very surprised it was neck and neck with the NHL. I would have thought they had a larger lead.

I thought I saw a story stating NHL games were out-selling NBA games this season.

NBA certainly does much better when it comes to TV revenue. But the NHL has a more affluent fanbase and a larger chunk of their supporters fall into the diehard category--those are the fans that will buy tickets to every game.

NBA seems to be the league a lot of people only have a casual interest for, while the diehards are more likely to gravitate toward the other sports. The lower TV ratings in any Finals that doesn't involve a mainstream name like Kobe or LeBron will prove that.

[town bidness]

bball can rest easy being much more popular worldwide than any sport that leads it in the us.

only futbol and cricket are more popular on the planet.

[zombiesonics]

In terms of popularity, relevance, recognition, and quality the NBA is second only to the NFL. The MLB has utterly fallen off the map.

[jordanzone]

"while those with a high school education or less tend to gravitate to auto racing."

This confirms a common theory about Nascar fans.

well, to be fair, a similar theory could probably be said about basketball, and maybe a tad bit more harsh being it's a black dominated sport...