Sports unite people from all over the world. The joy when there’s a major international tournament can’t be beaten - and everyone joins together to get involved. Recently, there’s been a lot said about how popular soccer - massive in the UK, is becoming in the US. But it’s also fair to say that American sports have also been gaining quite a bit of attention in the United Kingdom as well.
Generally, British fans are known for placing soccer… or as they call it, football bets and bets here and there on things like horse racing and cricket, etc. However, American sports like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL are also starting to get bigger.
But why? Well, let’s take a look at why American sports are starting to make it big in the UK.
Broadcasting
Probably, the main reason for the rise in popularity of American sports in the UK is the fact that there are more live games available to watch through the biggest UK broadcasters - including Sky Sports, BT Sport, and the BBC, who are all starting to dedicate a lot more airtime to American sports than ever before. As such, it’s so much easier for British audiences to watch games - either in real-time or via highlights.
-
The NFL has signed a multi-year agreement with Sky Sports - which means they air games every week - including the pinnacle of the sport, the Super Bowl.
-
You can find the NBA being broadcast on TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) where you’ll be able to watch things like marquee matchups, playoffs, and finals.
-
Major League Baseball - MLB, as well as the National Hockey League NHL also have broadcasting deals in the UK.
-
There are also streaming services like NFL Game Pass, NBA League Pass, and MLB.TV where you get access to live games and various other content.
It’s literally never been easier for UK players to get in on the action!
International Games Hit London
Another reason American sports are getting big in the UK is because London has started to become a bit of a hub for hosting live games. Head to the capital city and you’ll find all sorts of international sporting events. There are always thousands of fans who are eager to experience the excitement of American sports for themselves.
For example, the NFL London Games have been held at Wembley Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Twickenham since 2007. These games always sell out quickly - and have been an excellent way to introduce UK fans to the thrill of live American football.
Then, there’s the MLB London Series, which debuted in 2019 with a historic two-game matchup between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The success of the event meant that this was just the start of things to come.
The O2 Arena has also played host to the NBA Global Games - with teams like the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks attracting huge amounts of interest. The NHL Global Series has also brought ice hockey to London, which has also gone down well.
British Athletes Hit in American Leagues
There are also more British athletes in American sports leagues than ever before, which has also played a huge role in attracting more UK interest.
The NFL has players like Efe Obada and Jay Ajayi who have both represented the UK in the NFL. As well as this, London-born players like Luol Deng and OG Anunoby have both had successful careers in the NBA. British players are also starting to make their mark on the MLB and NHL, also helping to attract interest.
Starting Players Young
We’re also seeing a lot more grassroots programs and amateur leagues in the UK, getting fans in nice and young. There’s the British American Football Association (BAFA), which has seen more young athletes taking up the sport as well as the British Basketball League (BBL) which has started to gain more recognition - giving UK players a great way to make it to the NBA.
It may be that UK sports are getting big in the US, but it’s definitely a two-way street!
