766 Arts, Recreation, and Travel

U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2011

Table 1245. Adult Attendance at Sports Events by Frequency: 2009

[In thousands (2,097 represents 2,097,000), except percent. For fall 2009. Percent is based on total projected population of 

225,887,000. Based on survey and subject to sampling error; see source]

Event

Attend one or 

more times in a 

month 

Attend less 

than once a 

month Event

Attend one or 

more times in 

a month 

Attend less 

than once a 

month

NumberPercent NumberPercentNumberPercent NumberPercent

Auto racing—NASCAR. . . . .  2,097 0.9 1,693 7.4  Weekend professional games. . .  4,71

Auto racing—Other. . . . . . . .  2,332 1.0 14,134 6.3 Golf. . .

Baseball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9,442 4.2 27,778 12.3 High s

Basketball: Horse racing:

 College games. . . . . . . . . . . 4,623 2.1 15,615 6.9  Flats, runner

 Professional games. . . . . . .  3,990 18 17,893 7.9  Trotters/harness. . .

Bowling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,878 0.8 11,478 5

Boxing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,199 0.5 11,124 4.9 

Equestrian events. . . . . . . . .  471 0.2 11,111 4.9 Pro beach volleyball. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Figure skating. . . . . . . . . . . .  554 0.3 11,021 4.9 Pro bull rid

Fishing tournaments. . . . . . .  1,059 0.5 11,094 4.9 Rodeo 1. . . .

Football: Soccer. . . . . . . . . . .

 College games. . . . . . . . . . .  7,522 3.3 18,805 8.3 Tenni

 Monday night professional

 games. . . . . . . . . . .

Truck and tractor pull mud racing. . 1,213 0.5 11,955 5.3

Wrestling—professional. . . . . . . . .  1,

1

 Both pro bull riding and rodeo were measured as the combined “Rodeo/Bull riding.”

Source: Mediamark Research & Intelligence. LLC, New York, NY, Top-line Reports (copyright). See <http://www.mediamark

.com>.

Table 1243. College and Professional Football Summary: 1990 to 2009

[35,330 represents 35,330,000. For definition of median, see Guide to Tabular Presentation]

Sport Unit 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

NCAA college: 1

 Teams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Numb

 Attendance. . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,000. . . . .  35,330 35,638 39,05

National Football League: 2

 Teams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 Attendance, total 3. . . . . . . .  1,000. . . . .  17,666 19,203 20,954 21,792 2

 Regular season. . . . . . . . .  1,000. . . . .  13,960 15,044 16,387 17,012

 Average per game. . . . . .  Number. . .  62,321 62,682 66,078 66,455 67,738 67

 Postseason games 4. . . . .  1,000. . . . .  848 (NA) 809

 Players’ salaries: 5

 Average. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $1,000. . . .  354

 Median base salary. . . . . .  $1,000. . . .  275 301 441

NA Not available. 1 Source: National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, IN, <http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal> 

(copyright). 2 Source: National Football League, New York, NY, <http://www.nfl.com/>. 3 Preseason attendance data are not 

shown. 4 Includes Pro Bowl (a nonchampionship game) and Super Bowl. 5 Source: National Football League Players Association, 

Washington, DC., <http://www.nflpa.org/>.

Source: Compiled from sources listed in footnotes.

Table 1244. Selected Spectator Sports: 1990 to 2009

[55,512 represents 55,512,000]

Sport Unit 1990 1995 2000 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Baseball, major leagues: 1

 Attendance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,000. . . . .  55,512 51,288 74,339 7

 Regular season. . . . . . . . . . .  1,000. . . . .  54,824 50,469 72,748 73,023 74

 National League. . . . . . . . .  1,000. . . . .  24,492 25,110 39,851 40,221 41,644

 American League. . . . . . . .  1,000. . . . .  30,332 25,359 32,898 32,802 33,282 3

 Playoffs 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,000. . . . .  479 533

 World Series. . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,000. . . . . 

 Players’ salaries: 3

 Average. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $1,000. . . .  598 1,1

Basketball: 4, 5

 NCAA—Men’s college:

 Teams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Number. . 

 Attendance. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,000. . . . .  28,741 28,548 29,025 30,

 NCAA—Women’s college: 

 Teams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Number. . .  782 8

 Attendance 6. . . . . . . . . . . . .  1000. . . . . . 2,777 4,962 8,698 10,016 9,940 

National hockey league:

 Regular season attendance. . .  1,000. . . . .  12,580 9,234

8

) 20,854 20,862 21,236 21,475

 Playoffs attendance. . . . . . . . .  1,000. . . . 

8

) 1,530 1,497 1,587 1,640

Professional rodeo: 9

 Rodeos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Number

 Performances. . . . . . . . . . . . .  Number. . .  2,159 2,217 2,081 1,9

 Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Number. . .  5,693 6,894 6

 Permit-holders (rookies). . . . .  Number. . .  3,290 3,835 3,249 2,990 2,701 2,468 2

 Total prize money. . . . . . . . . . .  Mil. dol.. . . .  18.2 24.5 32.3

1

 Source: Major League Baseball (previously, The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs), New York, NY, National 

League Green Book, and The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, New York, NY, American League Red Book. 2

Beginning 1997, two rounds of playoffs were played. Prior years had one round. 3 Source: Major League Baseball Players Association, 

New York, NY. 4 Season ending in year shown. 5 Source: National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, IN (copyright). 6 For 

women’s attendance total, excludes double-headers with men’s teams. 7 For season ending in year shown. Source: National Hockey 

League, Montreal, Quebec. 8 In September 2004, franchise owners locked out their players upon the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement. The entire season was cancelled in February 2005. 9

 Source: Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Colorado 

Springs, CO., Official Professional Rodeo Media Guide, annual (copyright).

Source: Compiled from sources listed in footnotes.