What sports do fans watch — and where
do fans live?

Which sports are most watched in the United States?  Does interest in sports differ in the four regions of the country?

The Center’s Sport Fan Behavioral Study found:

  • Among those who follow at least one sport in season, the most popular by far is NFL football, with 78% of people saying they watch the sport.
  • The popularity of NFL football is followed by baseball (51%), NBA basketball (44%), college football (44%), the Olympics (34%), college basketball (32%), boxing (20%), ice hockey (20%), NASCAR (19%), tennis (16%), golf (16%), and the Winter X Games (16%).

How popular are each of these sports in different parts of the country?

  • NFL football is generally equally popular in all regions (Northeast-78%, South-76%, Midwest-79%, West-77%).
  • Baseball is watched most in the Northeast and least in the South (Northeast-66%, South-40%, Midwest-55%, West-50%).
  • NBA basketball is followed slightly more in the West than elsewhere, and the least in the Northeast (Northeast-40%, South-45%, Midwest-44%, West-48%).
  • The following of College football is strongest in the South and the Midwest (Northeast-35%, South-50%, Midwest-48%, West-40%).
  • The Olympics are watched by similar percentages in every region (Northeast-32%, South-33%, Midwest-35%, West-35%).
  • College basketball is most in demand in the Midwest (Northeast-28%, South-34%, Midwest-38%, West-25%).
  • Boxing is most favored in the Northeast and least in the Midwest (Northeast-24%, South-21%, Midwest-15%, West-19%).
  • The popularity of ice hockey is greatest in the Northeast and lowest in the South (Northeast-36%, South-13%, Midwest-21%, West-19%).
  • NACSAR is most watched in the South and Midwest (Northeast-16%, South-21%, Midwest-22%, West-15%).
  • Tennis is least in demand in the Midwest (Northeast-24%, South-21%, Midwest-15%, West-19%).
  • Golf is by a small degree most watched in the Northeast (Northeast-19%, South-15%, Midwest-14%, West-17%).
  • The Winter X Games are most in vogue in the West (Northeast-16%, South-14%, Midwest-16%, West-19%).


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October 31, 2017