In 2021, over 50 million viewers in the United States watched live sports on digital platforms, and analysts forecast this number will increase to more than 90 million by 2025. In previous years football has taken precedence, but other sports have started to grow in popularity in the US. While countries in Europe are typically known for their passion for soccer, the United States is beginning to creep up this list, with women’s soccer breaking viewership records in 2020. The consumption of live sport in the US in 2023 is expected to produce similar numbers, with the spring and summer full of different events that will attract large crowds.
The Top Sporting Events In The US This Spring And Summer
The Kentucky Derby (May 4-May 7, 2023)
The Kentucky Derby is an annual horse race held in Louisville, Kentucky. It is a Grade I stakes race at the horse racing complex Churchill Downs. The event was inaugurated 147 years ago and has been dubbed “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” Like many horse racing events, such as The Royal Ascot in England, The Kentucky Derby has a massive culture surrounding it. Fashion plays a significant role in the event, with attendees dressing in floral dresses and business suits. You’ll often find many women wearing chic hats, too, as it is said hats will bring luck.
Likewise, wagering on the races comes with the territory. In 2022, $179 million in bets were wagered on the Kentucky Derby. Attendees can place bets through self-service wager stations at Churchill Downs, but those who can’t make it to the event from other US states use online casinos and sportsbooks to bet on competing horses. For example, Betway is a popular sportsbook for wagering on events like The Kentucky Derby. According to this online casino review site, Betway has millions of players and offers desktop to mobile optimisation. The platform is commonly used for playing fast-paced mobile games like slots and roulette, but it also has a reputation as a sportsbook in the United States and Canada.
The Indianapolis 500 (May 28, 2023)
The Indianapolis 500 is another sporting event that will take place in the United States in May and attract both in-person spectators and online bettors. The Indianapolis 500, or Indy 500, is an automobile race that takes place annually at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The Indy 500 features some of the greatest drivers in the sport and is one of 17 races in the IndyCar series. During the week of April 17, the Indy 500 Open Test began, and some of the top results came from Josef Newgarden and Team Penske.
US Open Golf (June 15-June 18, 2023)
The 2023 US Open Championship event is a 72-hole stroke play tournament that will take place this summer in Los Angeles, California. The tournament will include 156 players and be played at the Los Angeles Country Club on the North Course. All players competing will gain entry into the tournament through qualifying events. Still, there will also be golfers who won major amateur events and world-ranked players, both of whom were exempt from qualifying.
The United States has always been known for its state-wide sports culture, and the number of events happening in 2023 in the country reiterates this. While tennis fans will have to wait for August for the US Open to roll around, horse racing, golf, and automobile racing fans have much to look forward to in the coming months.
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