American Football Dominates the Sports Industry, Growing 40% Faster than Baseball and 80% Faster than Soccer
For decades, sports have been a multibillion-dollar industry, generating enormous revenue for top clubs, leagues, and players. In 2025, the global sports market is expected to gross $118 billion, 5% more than last year and an impressive 25% jump from just three years ago, fueled by ticket sales, merchandise, and broadcasting rights. However, not all sports are growing at the same pace, with some expanding even faster than the overall market.
According to data presented by Betideas.com, American football leads the sports industry, with its revenue growing 40% faster than baseball`s and a staggering 80% faster than soccer’s.
American Football Grows 60% Faster than the Broader Sports Market
While soccer has had a lion’s share in the sports industry for years, American football has been rapidly closing the gap. Massive broadcasting deals, record-breaking sponsorships, pricey tickets, and the Super Bowl’s enormous advertising power, have helped football to grow into a financial giant, outpacing most other major sports. The rise of sports betting and fantasy football has further fueled fan engagement, boosting football revenue streams. And this is not just a trend. Football’s financial dominance shows no signs of slowing down.
According to a Statista Market Insights survey, American football clubs worldwide will generate $29.3 billion in revenue in 2025, reflecting a 7.9% year-over-year increase, the highest among all major sports. Despite having the largest global market share, soccer’s revenue is expected to grow 80% less, at just 4.3% this year.
Other major sports are also struggling to keep up. For instance, baseball revenue is projected to rise by only 5.5%, or 40% less than football’s growth, reaching $14.2 billion in 2025. Basketball clubs are expected to gross $11.3 billion, only 0.7% more than last year, and 11 times less compared to American football. Moreover, statistics show that American football is growing 60% faster than the broader sports market, which is forecasted to increase by 4.9% year-over-year.
The gap becomes even more evident when looking at average revenue per fan. In 2025, the average American football fan will spend around $128, nearly $40 more than a soccer fan, $70 more than a baseball or basketball fan, and $50 more than the global sports average.
American Football to Account for One Quarter of Total Sports Revenue in 2025
With this pace of growth, American football’s revenue is expected to surpass $38 billion by 2029, adding nearly $10 billion in just four years. Its share of the total sports market will also increase.
In 2025, American football is expected to make up around 25% of the total sports revenue, 6% more than its market share six years ago. This figure will continue increasing in the following years, reaching over 27% by 2029 and further cementing its status as one of the world’s most lucrative sports.
from Jastra Kranjec
Clickout Media Ltd AA PH,
jastra@clickoutmedia.com