Sports in the US is a significant part of the nation’s culture. Historically speaking, baseball has been the most popular game in the country for several reasons. American variant evolved from older British sports meaning, they developed their own rules and style which became significantly different from the European variant.
The sport has an intriguing history dating back to the 19th century when boys played a similar game by their own informal rules. The National Association of Baseball Players (NABBP) was founded. Before the Civil War, the sport competed for public interest, but during the 1860s, the New York-style variant became popular.
The sport began to overtake cricket and soon became a fan favorite because of its relatively shorter duration. Meanwhile, cricket also had a notable history dating back to the 18th century. The sport was introduced by the British colonists and became extremely popular but witnessed a significant decline after the Civil War when baseball started gaining popularity. The rise of the sport overshadowed the other and only in the 20th century did it gain recognition after the migration of South Asian and African people.
Current Popularity of Baseball and Cricket in the US
Baseball remains an important part of the sports culture in the United States. Major League Baseball (MLB) attracts over 68 million fans to the stadiums along with the streaming platforms. It is a tournament that surpassed an attendance of 70 million recently. Some of the Most. Important players in the sport are Ellie de LA Cruz and Julio Rodriguez.
However, looking at the state of the sport in the country, the sport is on the right track to making a big name for itself considering USA’s debut in the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024. If we look at the stats, the total fan base of the sport is estimated to be 3.37 Million which is a fraction of what its counterpart attracts. On top of this, The United States introduced Major League Cricket (MLC) in 2023 featuring various teams based out of cities like Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, etc.
Will Cricket Ever Hit The Homerun in the United States?
In all honesty, it will take a significant time for the gentleman’s game to rise as high as Baseball in the United States of America. However, looking at the stats mentioned above, one can be most assured that the day when it will be celebrated is not very far. With the successful run of the US team in the World Cup 2024, there is no way that the team will not compete the next time. This will only enhance the country’s infrastructure and chain of management regarding the sport, gradually causing an overall upward hike in the popularity of the sport.
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