The professional sports landscape in the United States is primarily defined by five major leagues: Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), and National Hockey League (NHL). These leagues attract vast fan interest, secure national television contracts, and boast high attendance figures, with teams spread across major metropolitan areas.
Historically significant, MLB, often dubbed the "National Pastime" since its National League was founded in 1876, and the NFL, established in 1920, remain immensely popular; the NFL notably holds records for per-game attendance, and its Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 became the most-watched program in U.S. television history. The NBA, founded as the BAA in 1946, stands as the premier basketball league globally. Meanwhile, MLS, created in 1996 as a condition for the U.S. hosting the 1994 World Cup, has experienced significant growth, employing the Designated Player rule since 2007 to attract international stars like David Beckham, and now ranks third in average attendance among U.S. sports leagues.