Sports in the United States

Sports in the United States are a significant aspect of the nation’s culture. Historically, the most popular sport has been baseball; however, since the mid 20th century American football has slowly become the most popular spectator sport. Additionally, basketball and ice hockey saw a significant growth during this period due to the advent of television. As such, the sanctioning bodies of these sports comprise what broadcasters refer to as the “Big Four” of the sport industry. These sports, with the addition of soccer, are the most popular sports played at the youth level.