Where would Horse Racing rank on the most popular spectator sports list as you thought it was first?

Answer 1

It is 1st!

Live spectators...NASCAR, no contest.

TV Ratings...American Football.

"Beginning as regional entertainment in the Southeastern U.S., NASCAR has grown to become the second most popular professional spectator sport in terms of television ratings inside the U.S., ranking behind only the National Football League. Internationally, NASCAR races are broadcast in over 150 countries. It holds 17 of the top 20 attended sporting events in the U.S., and has 75 million fans who purchase over $2 billion in annual licensed product sales. These fans are considered the most brand-loyal in all of sports, and as a result, Fortune 500 companies sponsor NASCAR more than any other sport."

"NASCAR sanctions over 1,500 races at over 100 tracks in 38 states, Canada, and Mexico."

The NFL is all about the TV Ratings, not as much so for live spectators. They actually will adjust the season because of TV Ratings.

"In recent decades, the NFL traditionally started the regular season on Labor Day Weekend and lasted through Christmas week. However, declining television ratings on Labor Day have pushed the start of the regular season ahead one week (which is where scheduling currently stands), although for the past four years, the regular season has begun on the Thursday after Labor Day."

"The television rights to pro football are the most lucrative (and most expensive) rights of any sport available. In fact, it was television that brought pro football into prominence in the modern era of technology. Since then, NFL broadcasts have become among the most-watched programs on American television, and the fortunes of entire networks have rested on owning NFL broadcasting rights."

• All quotes come from Wikipedia - probably the best online encyclopedia, of course that is just my opinion.