Everyone knows that Michigan is a state brimming with sports lovers, each having a passion for the thrill, like me when I stake one of the best sportsbooks in Michigan today. But which sports are the most popular among the locals? All five major league professional sports teams in Michigan are based in Detroit: the Tigers of Major League Baseball, the Lions of the National Football League, the Pistons of the National Basketball Association, the Shock of the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the Red Wings of the National Hockey League.
Background
In 1935, 1945, 1968, and 1984, the Tigers won the World Series. In 1989 and 1990, the Pistons won the NBA Championship. The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1936, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, and 2002, making them possibly the most famous hockey team of all time. Minor league hockey teams may be found in Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Kimball, and Saginaw, and minor league baseball teams in Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, Comstock Park, and Lansing.
Do these teams have a bearing on what sports the people of Michigan love the most? Let’s find out!
Football
Football is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and it is also the most popular in Michigan. The NFL’s Lions, who have played in Detroit since 1934, are one of the state’s most well-known teams. The Lions have four NFL championships to their credit, which came before the Super Bowl era. In addition, the University of Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans are two of the most popular college football teams in Michigan.
Horse Racing
The state racing commissioner oversees the thoroughbred and harness racing seasons at tracks in the Detroit region and in Jackson, which is Michigan’s oldest organized spectator sport. Although the meager prizes rarely attract the nation’s top horses, these races attract a large crowd and a lot of betting.
Basketball
Basketball is the state’s second-most popular sport, with the Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines standing out once again. With two Big Ten championships each in the last five tournaments, there hasn’t been much to distinguish them in recent years. The Detroit Pistons of the NBA have won three league championships and have a devoted fan base.
Nascar
According to Michigan residents, NASCAR is a top-five sport because of its simple framework and thrilling drama. The Michigan International Speedway, a 2-mile racetrack that hosts NASCAR Cup Series events each year, is the most popular attraction for local spectators. MIS is one of NASCAR’s fastest tracks. The Tenneco Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit, the Michigan 500 Indy car events on the CART circuit, and the Kmart 400 and Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup races are all held in Michigan.
Golf
Bloomfield Hills may be the state’s most famous setting, but don’t overlook the 650 other courses that make golf so popular in Michigan. For those who prefer to watch golf on TV, the state has appeared in the US Open on several occasions, most recently in 1996 at the Oakland Hills Country Club’s South Course in Bloomfield Hills.
And it’s no wonder with a legend like Sir Walter Hagen being such an advocate for the area. With 11 majors, 34 PGA Tour victories, six Ryder Cup teams, and 12 other career victories, including the 1921 Michigan Open and the 1930-31 Michigan PGAs, Sir Walter’s legacy is unrivaled. Hagen was the first professional recruited at Oakland Hills Country Club. He was a fierce but civil adversary of Bobby Jones. Hagen conducted many efforts to break down what appeared to be barriers between pros and amateurs. Hagen has participated in over 200 open tournaments and up to 1,500 demonstration matches across five continents, all in the cause of promoting the game. Hagen was a lifelong resident of northern Michigan, and he is now retired in East Long Lake.
Baseball
Baseball is constantly popular with casual and dedicated fans alike, earning a spot among the state’s top five sports. The local Major League Baseball franchise, the Detroit Tigers, has been based in Michigan for more than 120 years and has brought the state four World Series titles throughout that period.
Tennis
Tennis players such as Arthur Ashe, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, and Billie Jean King contributed to the sport’s popularity in the United States. Tennis, however, peaked in Michigan during the era of Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. Before Federer, Sampras was the standard by which Grand Slam success was measured. Agassi rose to prominence as the sport’s superstar. Half of the Top 100 men’s tennis players on tour back then were Americans.