Which major sports do you consider relevant in the US?

[Guru-In-Vegas]

The entire time I was in the military and while I continue to work for the military as a civilian, I can probably count hockey fans I knew/know on one hand.  I mention the military because there's people from all over the country.  NY, MIA (me), WA, CA, MD, AZ, WI, MI, AL, AK, MT, GA, MO...just to give you a handful of guys' states who I'm currently working with.  That's not counting while I was active duty.

MMA fans?  Too many to count. 

I'm not trying to hate on hockey but if you're going to call MMA a fringe/niche market (which I'm not arguing its possibility) then hockey should also be considered as such. 

MMA may not be a dominant sport in the US but I feel it's on an upswing like soccer is. 

In any event, UFC is not even 18 years old yet it's already rendered boxing almost irrelevant save for Pacquiao vs. Mayweather as Dave mentioned. 

[MikeO]

Bottom line...

1) NFL

2) MLB

3) College Football

and from 4 on down its everything else trailing by a LARGE distance. YES, that means the NBA!! NBA has a terrible TV deal and a huge image problem. NHL is regional, NCAA B'ball is a 1 month season now with a meaningless regular season, NASCAR is big but not big enough to crack the Top 3 of this ranking. Boxing is dead. UFC is growing and well but hasn't seen the light of day of network TV. Golf without Tiger is nothing. Tennis has dropped.

You got your "BIG 3" and everything else.

[Sunstroke]

The entire time I was in the military and while I continue to work for the military as a civilian, I can probably count hockey fans I knew/know on one hand. 

...MMA fans?  Too many to count.

Too funny... I know several hundred hockey fans (less than a year after watching my first hockey game), and just a handful of MMA fans. Actually, aside from people on this board, I know zero MMA fans.

[Brian Fein]

aside from people on this board, I know zero MMA fans.

Same here.

[Pappy13]

^^The only MMA fans I know are younger, in their 20's or early 30's. It's catching on, but I don't think it's to the level of hockey.

[MikeO]

MMA is so far past hockey its not even funny.

MMA can get 750,000 to one million people a month to spend $59.95 to watch a 2 hour PPV that starts at 9pm on the east coast

the NHL can't get people to tune in for FREE on NBC at 7pm to watch a Stanley Cup game.


Debate over! MMA WINS

[Brian Fein]

All reports say that the Stanley Cup Finals averaged 5.31 million viewers thru game 5 and game 7 had 8.56 million viewers.

You're right - no one watched it at all.

[Pappy13]

MMA can get 750,000 to one million people a month to spend $59.95 to watch a 2 hour PPV that starts at 9pm on the east coast

the NHL can't get people to tune in for FREE on NBC at 7pm to watch a Stanley Cup game.


Debate over! MMA WINS

I'm confused, are we debating the popularity of the sport or the intelligence level of the fans?

[Spider-Dan]

Bottom line...

1) NFL

2) MLB

3) College Football

and from 4 on down its everything else trailing by a LARGE distance. YES, that means the NBA!! NBA has a terrible TV deal and a huge image problem.

I find it quite interesting that the NBA has "huge problems" but MLB is fine and dandy.

[Thundergod]

As long as ESPN9 carries the World Championships of Midget Tossing...

There ya go:



Ahem, back on topic. I agree with MikeO, relevant, NFL, MLB, NCAA FB

[MikeO]

The NHL is a loser on cable tv when it comes to  ratings for the regular season while UFC is a cable TV ratings monster.

The NHL has a good week a year, the UFC draws big year round on PPV!

It's not even close that UFC is much bigger than the NHL. The NHL is a "niche" sport. That isn't a knock on it either. It has a couple pockets of the country where it is big and the vast majority of the USA could care less about the NHL. UFC is a huge hit from coast to coast and everywhere inbetween

[Sunstroke]

Thanks, T-God...that video warms my heart.

[Tenshot13]

MMA is huge in Tampa bay area.  I know a ton of MMA fans, but only a handful of Hockey fans.  I, personally, like both (especially with my TB Bolts back to form).

1.  NFL
2.  NCAA FB
3.  MLB
4.  NHL
4a. MMA
4b. March Madness
4d. NASCAR

I really think NHL, MMA, MM and NASCAR have about the same amount of viewership.  Believe it or not, NASCAR is on the decline.  MMA has huge upside and continues to grow.  NCAA BB will always be relevant in March.

[fyo]

In any event, UFC is not even 18 years old yet it's already rendered boxing almost irrelevant save for Pacquiao vs. Mayweather as Dave mentioned. 

In all fairness, boxing has done that pretty much on its own.

[Dave Gray]

When comparing MMA to Hockey, it's not apples to apples.

MMA is a paid event, first off.  Hockey is not.
Also, we're comparing one MMA event (out of about 25 in a year) to the 7th game of the hockey finals.

Do we know the viewership for MMA?  Most of the people I know watch it in bars, unlike any other sports I know. (save for boxing, maybe)

Maybe it's just the circle you're in.  I know a bunch of MMA fans, from friends I grew up with, to people I meet in kickball now.  I think it's also easier to be a casual MMA fan.  You can go watch and enjoy a fight with 2 guys you've never heard of, but the casual hockey fan isn't likely going to watch 2 teams they don't follow.