Which professional sport (excluding the Big 4 and Soccer) will see a massive increase in popularity over the next 20 years?

29 comments

1. None. We’re already over saturated and the TV networks only have so much time to fill.

2. You could just say “the big 5”

3. F1 looks like it is becoming more popular

4. I’m not sure I see any breaking through like that. Tennis and golf will continue to be country club niche sports. NASCAR/racing will continue to be for country folks. Etc. Frankly, we have so many huge sports already, there just isn’t any real room for any more… even if there were sports widely enjoyed enough to make it possible.

5. Pickleball.

6. Rugby and Lacrosse both seem to be growing in popularity, but they have a long way to go in terms of becoming a mainstream sport in the US.

   Soccer will very likely continue to be the fastest growing out of the established professional sports. Between Messi and us hosting the World Cup this decade should be very good for American soccer.

7. >the Big 4 and Soccer

   Soccer, football, baseball, basketball, and soccer.

8. Golf

9. I’d say that Rodeo has gained a much larger international popularity due to YouTube.

   It’s still a just regional thing in the US.

10. I think that TV series with that girl had a massive impact on the chess sport world

11. Bananaball

12. Do Esports count? If so, that.

13. You know, it may be just my feeling, but didn’t the Rubik’s Cube events grew like… mmmmasively in the last decade or so?

14. I doubt you’ll see new sports really become mainstream the way those are, but you’ll see some realignment in the popularity of the big sports. Football will remain dominant and basketball will probably still be 2, but soccer’s popularity is only going to grow and baseball will continue to decline

15. I think esports will become big

16. I think Rugby. I got into it while living overseas. I love that it’s similar to US football but flows better without the stopping and starting every 10-20 seconds for a huddle.

17. Easy. MMA…AKA…UFC.

18. Pro Wrestling is having something of a second resurgence.

    For the first time since 2001 we have 2 big budget companies with national reach in WWE and AEW. And ratings for both are generally very good for their days. With WWE also actually up year over year in viewership which is frankly shocking.

    20 years is a long time, but right now its in a better spot than any time since 2001 when WCW folded.

19. Motorsport. NASCAR is reinventing itself and it’s entrance into Leman shows they are willing to appeal to a different audience.

20. honestly i think lacrosse or wrestling could both get bigger.

21. WNBA — I think women’s basketball will gain more traction based on how this year’s women’s college tournament seemed to be a tipping point

22. World Baseball Classic (you said MLB, not just “baseball.”) It already grew a lot in terms of US viewership last year, and… an international men’s sports competition where *the USA team has a real shot* (unlike World Cup) *but there’s still actual competition* (unlike IFAF World Championship?)

23. Formula 1

24. Pickleball is already being played in stadiums, but I think it’s just a fad

25. Slap contest

26. Corgi Racing

27. Honestly, rugby Union. The rules take a second to understand, but are similar enough to football that it would be easy for people to get into. I don’t think it will break into the big five, but could become a larger sport.

    I would like to say cricket, but the rules are so weird compared to baseball, and MLC is only in its first season. So unless something major happens, cricket will stay very niche.

28. Cornhole

29. MMA is def on the rise