Whether it's cheering for the Yankees, Maple Leafs, or Lakers, having a deep love for a favourite sport unites fans all across the globe. From the roaring arenas of the NHL to the electrifying courts of the NBA, the excitement goes beyond the game. For many sports fans, it’s the victories and unforgettable memories each game creates.
Across North America, every region has its die-hard fans, but which sports reign supreme in each?
To unveil the most popular sports across Canada and the U.S., the online casino experts at Gambling Zone CA take a deep dive into the most Googled sports by r in the past year to reveal the fan favourites.
Canada’s Favourite Sport By Province
Ice hockey is the heart and soul of Canada, topping the list as the most searched sport in nearly every province and territory. From Nunavut's frozen landscapes to Alberta and Quebec's bustling cities, hockey is more than a pastime — it’s a national passion. It’s most popular in the Northwest Territories, with 37,139 searches per 10,000 people, while Manitoba is just behind with 32,087 searches.
Ontario, however, stands out with basketball as its most searched sport. This could be down to the Toronto Raptors and their unforgettable 2019 championship run, as the team still gets nearly 3.7 million searches from people in the province.
America’s Most Loved Sport By State
Football is the most searched sport across the U.S., topping the charts in 47 out of 50 states! From Friday night lights in Texas, where searches for the Dallas Cowboys hit almost 30 million over a year, to rivalries in Missouri, where people searched for the Kansas City Chiefs more than 4.2 million times.
Basketball steals the spotlight in five states, including New York, where the legendary Knicks were searched nearly 2.9 million times. Massachusetts also leans toward the hoops, with over 5.7 million searches for the Boston Celtics alone.
Then there’s Tennessee, where ice hockey has become the surprise favourite. The Nashville Predators’ rise has turned the state into a hockey hub, with more than 1.2 million searches for the team.
Which Places In The U.S. and Canada Search For Each Sport The Most?
While football, ice hockey, and basketball are the favourite sports for most states and provinces, which places search the most for each sport?
Canada’s Northwest Territories Has The Most Searches For Ice Hockey Per 10,000 People
The Northwest Territories, Canada, leads the list with 37,139 ice hockey searches per 10,000 people, showing the sport's strong cultural presence in this northern region. Known for its frigid climate and plenty of outdoor ice rinks, the Territories have long embraced ice hockey as a staple sport.
With 32,087 searches, Manitoba has a deep ice hockey heritage and is home to the NHL's Winnipeg Jets. With 29,213 searches, Alberta takes the third spot. The province has two NHL teams, the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.
Basketball Is The Most Searched Sport In Ontario Per 10,000 People
Ontario is in the top spot for basketball searches, with 15,612 per 10,000 people. As home to the Toronto Raptors, the only Canadian team in the NBA and 2019 champions, Ontario has become the centre of Canada’s basketball revolution, fueled by stars like Kawhi Leonard's iconic playoff moments.
Canada also takes the second and third spots, with Manitoba and British Columbia. The two areas have 15,049 and 13,387 searches, respectively, even without any homegrown teams in the NBA.
New Mexico Tops The List As The State With The Most Football Searches Per 10,000 People
Like most of the United States, football is a highly popular sport in New Mexico. It is the state’s most searched sport, with 13,278 Google searches per 10,000 people, the highest among all other states.
California has a strong reputation for iconic NFL teams, from the San Francisco 49ers to the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. It ranks second with 12,744 Google searches per 10,000 people, followed by Hawaii with 11,900.
California Grabs The Top Spot As The State With The Most Searches For Baseball Per 10,000 People
California leads the way in baseball searches, with 4,556 per 10,000 people, and it’s no surprise — this state is a baseball paradise. With five MLB teams, including the iconic Dodgers and Giants, plus a history of producing some of the sport’s greatest players, Californians live and breathe baseball.
In second place, Saskatchewan has 4,253 searches, showing that Canada’s prairies love the game too! Arizona rounds out the top three with 4,211 searches, perhaps fueled by its MLB team, the Diamondbacks, and its role as the sunny spring training home for many teams.
Ontario has the most searches for soccer per 10,000 people across Canada
Ontario is the leader in soccer searches, with 1,914 per 10,000 people. It’s home to stars like Jonathan David, who was raised in Ottawa and has shone on the global stage in both the national team and Lille.
Manitoba takes second place with 1,599 searches per 10,000 people. The province just beat New Brunswick, where there were a respectable 1,577 searches — showing the growing popularity of the beautiful game in the Maritimes.
Methodology
Using Google’s Keyword Planner, we compiled a list of keywords related to each sport, such as 'watch [league]' and '[Sport] tickets.' We then combined the total searches from the last 12 months (Nov 2023 - Oct 2024) for each US state and Canadian province.
To normalize the data, we used Google’s reach figures, which estimate the number of people in or interested in the selected location based on the number of signed-in users visiting Google sites. This was used to calculate the data per 10,000 people.
