How well do you know American sports?
The United States loves far more than football and baseball. Six questions about American sports traditions, from easy to hard, with explanations.
Did you know?
- The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is nicknamed the Brickyard because its track was once paved with more than three million bricks. A one-yard strip of the original bricks still marks the start-finish line.
- The Stanley Cup has traveled the world with winning players, visiting hometowns, mountaintops and even the bottom of a swimming pool. A team of 'Keepers of the Cup' accompanies it everywhere.
- Only 13 horses have won the Triple Crown. The 37-year gap between Affirmed in 1978 and American Pharoah in 2015 made that win especially celebrated.
A country of many sports traditions
American football, baseball and basketball draw the biggest crowds, but the United States has a rich tradition in many other sports. Ice hockey, horse racing, golf, auto racing and college sports all have loyal fans, famous events and unusual traditions. Many of these events are broadcast worldwide and attract visitors from around the globe.
Hockey country
Ice hockey is especially popular in the northern states and in cities with NHL teams. The Stanley Cup is unusual because each member of the winning team gets to spend a day with the trophy, and players' names are engraved on it.
Horse racing
The Kentucky Derby, first run in 1875, is the oldest continuously held major sporting event in the US. Spectators traditionally wear elaborate hats and drink mint juleps, and the winning horse receives a blanket of roses.
College sports
College sports are hugely popular in the United States, sometimes filling stadiums with more than 100,000 fans. College football and basketball are especially important in places without major professional teams.
Motor racing
Auto racing has deep roots in America. The Indianapolis 500 has been held since 1911, and NASCAR, founded in 1948, is especially popular in the South. The Daytona 500 in Florida opens the NASCAR season each year.
Golf and tennis
Golf's four major championships include three held in the US: the Masters, the PGA Championship and the US Open. In tennis, the US Open in New York is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
Native American roots
Lacrosse is one of the oldest team sports in North America. It was played by many Indigenous nations long before Europeans arrived, and today it is one of the fastest-growing sports among American high school students.
Sports and holidays
Some American holidays are closely linked to sports. The Indianapolis 500 is held on Memorial Day weekend, and watching American football on Thanksgiving Day has been a family tradition for generations.