What sport makes the most money in America?

Around the world, hundreds of millions of people watch professional sports. It is a popular pastime, a connecting activity, and even a ritualistic rite for enthusiasts. It is also a lucrative enterprise for team owners, players, and television stations worldwide.

TOP 5 SPORTS IN AMERICA

1.	American Football
2.	Basketball
3.	Baseball
4.	Soccer
5.	Ice Hockey

People gather in stadiums, pubs, and homes to watch their favorite athletes compete in sports ranging from baseball and cricket to boxing and soccer. This can earn hundreds of thousands to billions of dollars in revenue.

Which sports generate the most revenue? We have prepared a list based on ticket sales, broadcast licenses, merchandise sales, and commercial partnerships.

10. $300 Million Motorcross

Europe is where motocross (dirt biking) originated. It was more of a personal enrichment sport for those seeking a thrill. Since the inception of the popular X Games, however, it has become a significant spectator sport.

With strong ticket sales, network licensing, and retail sales, motocross is unquestionably a growing revenue-generating sport.

9. Tennis – $700 Million

Tennis, one of the most benign sports, is immensely popular internationally, and the best players come from every continent. Even though it is not as popular or lucrative as other sports, it still earns enough money to be in the top 10.

ESPN, NBC, and the Tennis channel aired all of the major Opens due in large part to network licensing. Ticket revenues for key events as Wimbledon, The French Open, and The US Open also contribute significantly to the sport’s revenue.

8. Boxing – One Billion Dollars

Boxing has historically been a lucrative sport for players, promoters, and venues. Although there are still venues such as the MGM Grand that charge up to $1,000 a ticket, Pay Per View has become the primary source of revenue. Depending on the participants, a PPV bundle could cost anywhere from $50 and $120.

7. Formula 1/NASCAR – $1.4 Billion

Despite a 15-year decline in popularity, NASCAR still maintains a large and devoted fan following that generates a substantial amount of revenue. For example, last year’s Daytona 500 generated about $2 billion for the state of Florida due to the influx of spectators.

With the three major touring series, the Cup series, and local, smaller events, NASCAR remains a lucrative sport.

6. MMA – $1.5 Billion in Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts is a contact-based fighting sport. It has grown in popularity over the past decade due to its brutal, no-holds-barred, use-any-means-necessary style of competition.

MMA contests managed by the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) are extremely lucrative events. Eleven of the top sports venue events in the world are UFC fights. Two were held in the United States and two in London.

In addition to arena events, the UFC also hosts several Online events, such as weekly live events like Fight Night. For larger fights, pay-per-view purchases are required.

With competitors like Connor McGregor, Michael Chandler, and Jose Aldo, it’s hardly surprising that so many people pay so much money to see these events.

5. NHL – Hockey – Three Billion Dollars

Although hockey may not be the most popular sport in the United States, it is Canada’s national sport. Fans in the United States are typically diehards who spend a fortune on tickets, merchandising, pay-per-view, and cable channels that broadcast games. Hence, hockey can attain the number five position.

4. NBA – Basketball – $8 Billion

The NBA is on the upswing after being severely hit by the COVID outbreak and losing an estimated $2 billion to $3 billion. Even while attendance has lingered around a record low of 22 million over the previous few seasons, the league continues to generate billions of dollars through network rights (with TNT, ESPN, and others), sponsorship deals, and merchandise sales.

In fact, NBA gear is among the most coveted brands available. The three most profitable teams are the New York Knicks, the Golden State Warriors, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

3. MLB – Baseball – $10.7 Billion

The popularity of “America’s Pastime” has decreased over the previous decade, but it still earns enough money to rank third in terms of overall revenue.

A portion of this is because it is no longer only the national pastime. In countries such as the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, baseball is tremendously popular.

The latest worldwide ticket sales were 69,625,200. It is also common knowledge that baseball fans enjoy their concession stand, hot dogs, beer, shirts, hats, and foam fingers. That generates enormous profits for MLB.

Moreover, licensing agreements with FOX, ESPN, TBS, and MLB Network contribute to earnings. The two highest-earning clubs in this sport are the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2. National Football League – American Football – $17 Billion

The NFL, which was founded in 1921, is primarily popular in the United States. Yet, with over 18 million spectators annually, it is the second most lucrative sport in the world.

1. Football – $50 Billion

It should not come as a surprise that soccer has become not only the most popular but also the most lucrative sport in the world. The 2022 FIFA World Cup generated more than $4.7 billion in revenue alone.

The International Federation of Football oversees professional soccer, which is played in over 200 countries worldwide (FIFA). Over forty leagues are subject to their restrictions.

From Real Madrid, La Liga, Manchester United, and La Liga to minor divisions like Turkish Super and Belgian First, these leagues collaborate to create the most lucrative sport on the planet.

Sporting events generate revenue through ticket sales, marketing, and licensing rights. FIFA has partnerships with ESPN, FOX, and Meta, among others. It helps that players like Messi, Ronaldo, and Neymar are attracting more and more fans to the sport.

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