The purpose of this website is to inform the audience about major sports in North America. Briefly describe all four major sports leagues, briefly inform about league's histories. Compare the leagues in certain aspects. Provide a list of teams in every major sport league and provide direct links to league's websites.
The major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada are the highest professional competitions of team sports in those countries. The four leagues universally included in the definition are Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), and the National Hockey League (NHL).
The MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL are commonly referred to as the "Big 4". Each of these is the wealthiest professional club competition in its sport worldwide, and along with the English Premier League they make up the top five sports leagues by revenue in the world. In addition, the sports of these four leagues were all developed in their modern forms in North America, and all except American football have become popular internationally. Because the leagues enjoy a significant place in popular culture in the U.S. and Canada, the best players from these leagues often become cultural icons in both countries.
Currently, the NFL has 32 teams, the NHL has 31 teams, and others have 30 each. The vast majority of major league teams are concentrated in the most populous metropolitan areas of the United States and Canada. Unlike the promotion and relegation systems used in sports leagues in various other regions around the world, those teams in the North American sports leagues remain static from season-to-season, unless they are disbanded or relocated. Each Big Four league averages at least 15,000 fans in attendance per game as of 2015.
| League | Sport | Year Founded | Teams | Revenue US$ | Average Attandance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Football League | American Football | 1920 | 32 | $13 Billion | 68,400 |
| National Hockey League | Ice Hockey | 1917 | 31 | $3.7 Billion | 17,481 |
| National Basketball Association | Basketball | 1946 | 30 | $5.2 Billion | 17,864 |
| Major League Baseball | Baseball | 1903 | 30 | $9.5 Billion | 30,517 |
| League | Average Yearly Salary US$ | Average Career Length | Average Career Earnings US$ |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL | $1.9 Million | 3.5 Years | $6.7 Million |
| NHL | $2.4 Million | 5.5 Years | $13.2 Million |
| NBA | $5.15 Million | 4.8 Years | $24.7 Million |
| MLB | $3.2 Million | 5.6 Years | $17.9 Million |