Global Athletic Events
This weekend, the United States is enjoying an unofficial national holiday. Super Bowl XLIV (American football) between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans will be played this Sunday, a massive sports event expected to draw about 150 million viewers.
While the American football finale is the most profitable athletic event in the world (according to Forbes), it is not the most watched or the most popular when taking into consideration all global sporting events.
Here are the top six sports events for 2010.
# 6 Wimbledon (Tennis)
Est. Viewers: 30 million
Wimbledon, along with the U.S. Open and Australian Open, is tennis' biggest event. It is estimated that over 700 million people around the world follow tennis.
Wimbledon features U.S. and international stars such as Swiss Roger Federer, Spain's Rafael Nadal, and American Andy Roddick. Therefore, viewers come from every continent around the globe.
Wimbledon draws about 30 million viewers. There is no singular championship in tennis, and elite players compete in multiple Grand Slam tournaments throughout the year. This may be responsible in diluting viewership.
You miss one Grand Slam tournament, and you can watch another one months later - unlike basketball, baseball, American football or hockey. Still, tennis' large volume of following as a sport translate into a mass audience. And Wimbledon is considered the most prestigious and storied
# 5 Formula One Championship (Racing)
Est. Viewers: 115 million
Formula One racing is a highly popular event in select regions around the world. This racing championship is most popular in Africa and South America.
North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia also contributes to the viewership.
At 115 million viewers, Formula One remains a fixture as one of the most followed sporting events in any year.
# 4 PENDING - Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather (Boxing)
Est. Viewers: 120 million (Assumption: 95% ratings in the Philippines, translating to 90+ million viewers in the archipelago. Plus 30 million viewers in the U.S. and globally.)
Yes. As everyone knows, all sports and boxing fans are disheartened that the camps of boxing's pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and its former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr could not agree to terms in order to make this super fight happen. To place things in perspective, Pacquiao vs Mayweather is the sport's biggest fight in over 30 years, since Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier in the mid-1970s.
Additionally, most boxing experts predict this fight to be the highest grossing fight in terms of live gate and pay-per-views (PPV) in history. That could translate to $200 to $250 million in revenues for a single bout. Let's see if the two sides can now agree to a proper drug testing protocol.
# 3 Super Bowl XLIV (American Football)
2010: Indianapolis Colts vs New Orleans Saints
Est. Viewers: 150 million
The Super Bowl is considered the world's most profitable annual sports event. CBS is covering the event this year, and is charging $2.8 million for each 30-second television commercial. Despite a sagging U.S. economy, companies are still eager to place tv's most prime commercial spots given the 150 million in estimated viewership. In 2009's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals, close to 40% of all U.S. television sets were tuned in to the game. The Super Bowl brand is considered more valuable than the World Cup, World Series, and Summer Olympics.
Over 160 million viewers caught a portion of the Super Bowl game in 2009 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the St. Louis Cardinals. The game is by far the largest sporting event in the United States, trumping baseball's World Series, and the NBA championship. It is considered an unofficial holiday in America.
# 2 Vancouver 2010 (Olympic Winter Games)
Est. Viewers: 200 million
NBC estimates that the Vancouver 2010 Games will be viewed by close to 200 million.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will need to provide security for an estimated 5,500 athletes and coaches, 11,000 media and 350,000 visitors that will travel to Vancouver in February. The costs for providing such security is estimated at over $600 million.
Olympic Games generate massive following due to nationalistic sentiments from citizens around the world. Athletes that compete in these events are not just personal successes, but also national icons and flag bearers. These translate into a mass global audience.
# 1 FIFA World Cup (Soccer)
Est. Viewers: 275 - 325 million
Over 200 million viewers watched the UEFA League final in 2009 - more than the Super Bowl. The UEFA League final is not even the FIFA World Cup. The FIFA World Cup takes place only once every four years.
Like the Olympic Games, with a loyal global following, it remains the biggest sports event on the planet. Fans from around the world fly to the chosen venue on a sports / soccer pilgrimage.
This year, the games will take place in South Africa.
Author:Marv Dumon
Source: examiner.com
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