There’s no more popular sport here in Essex than football, and it’s no surprise because right on our doorstep are a host of teams. From Colchester United in the Football League to Chelmsford City, Braintree Town and Concord Rangers a little lower down the league pyramid, hordes of fans follow their favourite teams around, hoping for a vital three points or an inspiring late leveller.
However, other sports are well represented in the county, too, with first-class cricket being another big draw as we all loved seeing Essex take Division Two of the County Championship last year. While football and cricket are important when it comes to sport on our doorstep, do they mean as much to people right across the globe?
No matter what league it is, from the Ryman League to the IPL, or even our Premier League here in England, they all have a group of passionate fans who live for their passion. So, let’s get right to it and kick off our list of the most popular sports leagues in the world.
Nippon Professional Baseball
In a recent poll, 45% of people in Japan said their favourite sport is baseball, but it’s not the MLB in America that they cast their eyes upon; it’s the Nippon Professional Baseball league. Featuring just 12 teams since its inaugural year back in 1950, the league is a massive draw for the people of Japan, with the Yomiuri Giants in Tokyo arguably the most famous team. The average attendance at the games in the league is around 28,000.
Australian Football League
One of the other oldest league competitions globally, the AFL is the most popular professional league in Australia. Fans have been gripped with the game in the Southern Hemisphere since its inception back in 1897, with average attendances of around 33,000 fans regularly packing stadiums around the country. The current reigning champions are the Melbourne Demons, who won the title for the first time in 57 years last September and are many people’s pick to retain the trophy this year. Although the game is played on an oval pitch, and the uninitiated may think it looks like a rudimentary version of rugby union, it couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s a brutal game of tackling tactics, and it isn’t for the faint-hearted.
English Premier League
Football was born in England, so it’s no shock that the Premier League is the most popular league on our shores. Its historic status also makes it appealing to some of the world’s best players, creating some of the fiercest rivalries in the sports year after year, and this season is no exception. Liverpool are looking to win back the title of champions of England from the holders and current favourites in the Ladbrokes betting markets, Manchester City. However, not only will there be tens of thousands watching the race for the title unfold within the likes of Anfield and the Etihad Stadium, but there’ll also be potentially 4.7 billion fans watching in 212 territories across the globe on TV.
National Football League
There’s no doubt that the NFL is the biggest and most popular sports league in the US, and it has grown exponentially since its first year back in 1920. After starting with just three teams in three separate leagues, there are now 32 franchises competing for the title of champions over the 17-week long season, culminating in the showcase event, the Super Bowl, which is a truly worldwide spectacle. In January, when the Los Angeles Rams were crowned as winners, it was watched by well over 100 million according to The Sporting News — reaffirming its status as the most-watched annual sporting event on the planet.