What sports do British people prefer to see in-person?

The roars, cheers, chants, sights, and smells are all part of the sporting experience tech can't emulate, at least not yet. Crowds are filling seats throughout the UK, but the question remains, where do they gather the most? Plenty of sports found their place in the UK, but which are seen fondly?

1. Horse Racing

One of the UK’s oldest and most beloved sporting traditions is horse racing, where the event and horses all have long-standing pedigree. In 2023 alone, the sport saw a remarkable 4.8 million race enthusiasts and bettors attend events, with fixtures like Cheltenham and Ascot drawing in impressive crowds. Cheltenham is known for its prestigious National Hunt Festival and regularly sees attendance figures of around 68,000, with Ascot’s Royal Meeting also boasting similar numbers. 

These events are marked with red in any horse racing calendar and continue the unique atmosphere of the races, betting on the excitement of competition, and the tradition of a day at the track. Fans can always find free horse racing tips on websites to enhance their racing events in this long-standing practice that has followed horse racing since its inception. Horse racing attracts a wide demographic, from casual spectators to serious bettors, making it a social event as much as a sporting one.

2. Football

Little needs to be said about the UK sports landscape, as it consistently draws the largest crowds and is known worldwide. In 2023, football fans purchased over 15 million tickets to attend matches in the Premier League alone, accounting for a significant portion of the country’s total sports attendance. The Premier League, with its global appeal and high level of competition, attracts fans from around the world. It is British supporters who pack the stadiums on matchdays, chant beloved songs, cheer, and explode whenever their team scores!

The rise of women’s football in the UK has also contributed to record-breaking attendance figures. With over 1.5 million ticket purchasers supporting women’s football in 2023, the sport is getting up with the rest. Women's competitions such as the FA Women's Super League (WSL) and the Women's FA Cup are expanding their fanbases, with several clubs seeing sell-out crowds and significant media attention.

3. Cricket

During the summer, it's cricket time! In the UK, particularly during 2023, cricket saw its highest-ever attendance numbers, surpassing 3 million spectators. Key events, like the Ashes series and the Hundred, played a major role in boosting these record numbers. The Hundred features fast-paced, limited-over matches, and attracted over 580,000 fans in 2023 alone, demonstrating its broad appeal, healthy cricket scene, and success in drawing in traditional cricket, and younger fans. 

Cricket is filled with rivalries, just like any other sport, but what stands out is the Ashes, a long-standing rivalry between England and Australia. We all love a good, healthy rivalry, and this continues to be one of the sport’s most highly anticipated events, filling stadiums across the country.

4. Rugby

The US has its version of rugby, its core may be in Australia, but rugby has found its home in the UK. Rugby union has a strong following in the UK, especially in England, where fans' support for the national team and domestic clubs knows no bounds. The Rugby World Cup year last year saw average attendance figures rise, with notable sell-outs at Twickenham for the Men’s Six Nations. The women’s game saw nearly 60,000 fans attend England's match against France, demonstrating the growing interest in women’s rugby and demonstrating that rugby welcomes all!  

5. Formula 1

Formula 1 has a dedicated following in the UK, with the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone drawing 480,000 fans across the weekend in 2023.  Even events like the MotoGP and touring car races contribute to the motorsport sector’s popularity. And how healthy and popular is the motorsport scene currently? Well popular enough for Kings of Leon to attend and make a show for the history books.

Conclusion

British sports fans embrace the live sports experience and there is no doubt such a trend will continue to live on. The tradition has a healthy foundation and is being cherished by generation after generation. Football, horse racing, cricket, rugby union, motorsport, and others all offer unique appeal. And while newcomers become entranced by finding out and experiencing it, old-timers can't get enough of it, leading to a healthy sports scene, set for years to come.