The 50 Most Watched Sporting Events in U.S. Television History
When you think of the most watched sporting events in the United States, most people probably don’t think about the month of June. It’s a big month in sports though, with the Stanley Cup finals already underway, and the NBA Finals starting later today. Unfortunately the NHL Finals don’t crack the list, but thanks to the NBA Finals, some of the most watched games in sports history have occurred in June…. if you don’t include the Super Bowl in your list.
Super Bowl XLIX in 2015 had a record 114 million viewers and a rating of 47.5. But that is the NFL and since more people watch the NFL than any other sport in America, we had to give them their own article. Otherwise you would be reading about the NFL’s most watched games and nothing else. Millions of fans have been watching all the major sports in America for a very long time. We have done the research and put together a list of the 50 most watched sporting events in US history. (Excluding the NFL)
50. 1984 World Series Game 2
Who: Detroit Tigers vs. San Diego Padres
Where: Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California
TV Rating/Viewers: 26/32.01 Million
49. 1991 World Series Game 4
Who: Minnesota Twins vs. Atlanta Braves
Where: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
TV Rating/Viewers: 22.9/32.1 Million
48. 1986 World Series Game 2
Who: New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox
Where: Shea Stadium in Queens, New York
TV Rating/Viewers: 25.5/32.34 Million
47. 1987 World Series Game 5
Who: Minnesota Twins vs. St.Louis Cardinals
Where: Busch Stadium in St.Louis, Missouri
TV Rating/Viewers: 23.4/32.55 Million
46. 2010 Winter Olympics
Broadcast: Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies
Where: Sochi, Russia
TV Rating/Viewers: 18.5/32.6 Million
45. 1985 World Series Game 3
Who: Kansas City Royals vs. St.Louis Cardinals
Where: Busch Stadium in St.Louis, Missouri
TV Rating/Viewers: 25.4/32.8 Million
44. 1990 World Series Game 4
Who: Cincinnati Reds vs. Oakland Athletics
Where: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California
TV Rating/Viewers: 21.4/32.91 Million
43. 1998 NBA Finals Game 4
Who: Utah Jazz vs. Chicago Bulls
Where: United Center in Chicago, Illinois
TV Rating/Viewers: 19.1/33 Million
42. 1996 NBA Finals Game 4
Who: Seattle Supersonics vs. Chicago Bulls
Where: Key Arena in Seattle, Washington
TV Rating/Viewers: 18.1/33 Million
41. 1996 NBA Finals Game 5
Who: Seattle Supersonics vs. Chicago Bulls
Where: Key Arena in Seattle, Washington
TV Rating/Viewers: 17.2/33 Million
40. 1986 World Series Game 1
Who: New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox
Where: Shea Stadium in Queens, New York
TV Rating/Viewers: 24.1/33.10 Million
39. 1991 World Series Game 3
Who: Atlanta Braves vs. Minnesota Twins
Where: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
TV Rating/Viewers: 23.5/33.17 Million
38. 1991 World Series Game 5
Who: Atlanta Braves vs. Minnesota Twins
Where: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
TV Rating/Viewers: 22.9/33.18 Million
37. 1986 World Series Game 3
Who: New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox
Where: Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts
TV Rating/Viewers: 25.6/33.2 Million
36. 2015 NCAA Football Championship
Who: Ohio State vs. Oregon
Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
TV Rating/Viewers: 18.9/33.4 Million
35. 1987 World Series Game 2
Who: Minnesota Twins vs. St.Louis Cardinals
Where: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV Rating/Viewers: 21.9/33.66 Million
34. 1994 Winter Olympics
Broadcast: Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies
Where: Lillehammer, Norway
TV Rating/Viewers: 20.9/33.84 Million
33. 1984 World Series Game 1
Who: Detroit Tigers vs. San Diego Padres
Where: Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California
TV Rating/Viewers: 27.7/33.86 Million
32. 1988 World Series Game 4
Who: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Oakland Athletics
Where: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California
TV Rating/Viewers: 24.2/33.96
31. 1987 World Series Game 4
Who: Minnesota Twins vs. St.Louis Cardinals
Where: Busch Stadium in St.Louis, Missouri
TV Rating/Viewers: 23.8/34.04 Million
30. 1996 Summer Olympics
Broadcast: Summer Olympics Closing Ceremonies
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
TV Rating/Viewers: 21.8/34.11 Million
29. 1986 World Series Game 4
Who: New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox
Where: Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts
TV Rating/Viewers: 26.0/34.49 Million
28. 1988 World Series Game 2
Who: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Oakland Athletics
Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California
TV Rating/Viewers: 23.1/34.7 Million
27. 1985 World Series Game 6
Who: St.Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals
Where: Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri
TV Rating/Viewers: 24.2/34.86 Million
26. 1988 World Series Game 3
Who: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Oakland Athletics
Where: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California
TV Rating/Viewers: 24.8/34.99 Million
25. 1987 World Series Game 3
Who: Minnesota Twins vs. St.Louis Cardinals
Where: Busch Stadium in St.Louis, Missouri
TV Rating/Viewers: 24.9/34.99 Million
24. 1997 NBA Finals Game 6
Who: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz
Where: United Center in Chicago, Illinois
TV Rating/Viewers: 18.5/35 Million
23. 1996 NBA Finals Game 6
Who: Chicago Bulls vs. Seattle Supersonics
Where: United Center in Chicago, Illinois
TV Rating/Viewers: 18.8/35 Million
22. 1993 NBA Finals Game 4
Who: Phoenix Suns vs. Chicago Bulls
Where: Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois
TV Rating/Viewers: 19.8/35 Million
21. 1997 NBA Finals Game 5
Who: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz
Where: Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah
TV Rating/Viewers: 20.1/35 Million
20. 1992 World Series Game 6
Who: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Atlanta Braves
Where: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
TV Rating/Viewers: 22.7/35 Million
19. 1985 World Series Game 4
Who: St.Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals
Where: Busch Stadium in St.Louis, Missouri
TV Rating/Viewers: 24.8/35.04 Million
18. 2006 Rose Bowl
Who: USC vs. Texas (BCS Title Game)
Where: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
TV Rating/Viewers: 21.7/35.6 Million
17. 1993 NBA Finals Game 5
Who: Phoenix Suns vs. Chicago Bulls
Where: Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois
TV Rating/Viewers: 19/36 Million
16. 1991 NBA Finals Game 5
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls
Where: Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California
TV Rating/Viewers: 19.7/36 Million
15. 1998 NBA Finals Game 5
Who: Utah Jazz vs. Chicago Bulls
Where: Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois
TV Rating/Viewers: 19.8/37 Million
14. 1997 World Series Game 7
Who: Cleveland Indians vs. Florida Marlins
Where: Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
TV Rating/Viewers: 24.5/37.99 Million
13. 1998 NBA Finals Game 6
Who: Utah Jazz vs. Chicago Bulls
Where: Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah
TV Rating/Viewers: 22.3/38 Million
12. 1986 World Series Game 5
Who: New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox
Where: Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts
TV Rating/Viewers: 29.8/38.71 Million
11. 1988 World Series Game 5
Who: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Oakland Athletics
Where: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California
TV Rating/Viewers: 27/38.8 Million
10. 1993 NBA Finals Game 6
Who: Phoenix Suns vs. Chicago Bulls
Where: America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona
TV Rating/Viewers: 20.3/39 Million
9. 2001 World Series Game 7
Who: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees
Where: Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona
TV Rating/Viewers: 23.5/39.08 Million
8. 1996 Summer Olympics
Who: Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
TV Rating/Viewers: 23.6/39.77 Million
7. 1991 World Series Game 6
Who: Atlanta Braves vs. Minnesota Twins
Where: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV Rating/Viewers: 25.4/40.83 Million
6. 1986 World Series Game 6
Who: New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox
Where: Shea Stadium in Queens, New York
TV Rating/Viewers: 30.3/44.51 Million
5. 1985 World Series Game 7
Who: St.Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals
Where: Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri
TV Rating/Viewers: 32.6/45 Million
4. 2002 Winter Olympics
Broadcast: Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah
TV Rating/Viewers: 25.5/45.6 Million
3. 1991 World Series Game 7
Who: Atlanta Braves vs. Minnesota Twins
Where: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV Rating/Viewers: 32.2/50.34 Million
2. 1987 World Series Game 7
Who: Minnesota Twins vs. St.Louis Cardinals
Where: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV Rating/Viewers: 32.6/51.18 Million
1. 1986 World Series Game 7
Who: New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox
Where: Shea Stadium in Queens, New York
TV Rating/Viewers: 38.9/58 Million