# Who's gone to the most types of professional sporting events? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 26, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999 "2003-07-26T00:47:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/1 "2003-07-26T00:47:21Z")
I have a pretty woeful selection myself: NFL, NHL, and tennis. That’s it. I was thinking it might be a neat goal to see as many different sports (in a professional context) as I could. (I think I was bored or drunk.) The basic rule to meet the “professional” guideline is that it has to have a lot of spectators. I’m thinking more than 5000. You can’t count a college volleyball game with 100 people watching, half of them related to the players. It has to be the Beach Volleyball championship or some such item. And only one entry per sport. No double counting college football and the NFL. Bigger wins. So who do I have to beat? ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/2 "2003-07-26T01:28:31Z")
Not that I have been to many, but I’m game: Football (Redskins, Rams) Baseball (Orioles, Red Sox, Dodgers) Basketball (Lakers, Bullets - before they became the Wizards) Hockey (Caps) Soccer (DC United and several games in Brazil) Golf (Kemper Open, Greater Hartford Open) I think that’s it… Bonus points for people who can figure out where I’ve lived in my life 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/3 "2003-07-26T06:17:33Z")
Rugby League (Club, State-of-Origin, International; in Australia and UK) Rugby Union (Club, Super 12, International; in Australia and UK) Australian Rules (Sydney Swans) NFL (Baltimore Ravens) NHL (in Vancouver and New York) Baseball (Major League, in Baltimore and Seattle) Soccer (English Premier League, in Liverpool, Manchester, Chelsea) 4/5 Day Cricket (Sheffield Shield matches in Australia; Test Matches in Australia and England) One Day Cricket (Interstate matches in Australia; internationals in Australia and England) ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/4 "2003-07-26T07:19:56Z")
1. Cricket 2. Rugby League 3. Rugby Union 4. Aussie Rules 5. Soccer 6. Tennis 7. Golf 8. Swimming 9. Murderball/Wheelchair Rugby 10. Beach Volleyball 11. Sumo 12. Fencing 13. Hockey (real hockey, not ice hockey) 14. Athletics 15. Fencing 16. Basketball 17. Triathlon 18. Yachting 19. Motor Racing 20. International Rules (a cross between Aussie Rules and Gaelic Football) 21. Horse Racing Probably others I can’t think of… ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/5 "2003-07-26T07:29:52Z")
**Big Nik** reminded me of a couple more: Motor Racing Horse Racing I think i forgot these because i used to go as a kid, but dislike both of them intensely now. By the way, **Big Nik** , look at no. 12 on your list. Now look at no. 15. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/6 "2003-07-26T09:33:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmackFu \* > **The basic rule to meet the “professional” guideline is that it has to have a lot of spectators. I’m thinking more than 5000. You can’t count a college volleyball game with 100 people watching, half of them related to the players.** I have attended a few events (coincidentally, all racket sports – squash, real tennis, rackets, and pelota) that failed _by an order of magnitude or more_ to meet the OP’s guidelines of \>5000 spectators, although they were “professional sporting events” by any reasonable standards, i.e. the spectators **paid** to be there and the participants **were paid** to play. That is in addition, of course, to many other types of events already mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/7 "2003-07-26T09:49:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BigNik \* > \*\* > > 1. Hockey (real hockey, not ice hockey) > \*\* 😕 Isn’t ice hockey “real hockey”? My own list is rather small. Baseball Football (real football, not soccer) 🙂 [sorry, couldn’t resist] Hockey Basketball Volleyball Auto Racing (not a sport, in my opinion, but that’s another thread) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/8 "2003-07-26T17:47:28Z")
Big Nik has me beat, but I’m close… Fencing (maybe Nik mentioned it twice because he went to a pro fence-building contest…? 😉 ) American football- Bucs, Orlando Rage, and Orlando Predators (I say three different football leagues is pretty good) Basketball Equestrian (show jumping and racing even though I’m deathly allergic) Pro wrestling (can I count that?) Motorsports Soccer/football Cricket (England vs. India @ Lords in '87 I think… not a fun day out for a five-year old) Karting (although I guess that goes under motorsports) Rugby (although this was back when it was amateur only, so its iffy) baseball (ugh) hockey (on ice & field) tennis squash rugby league track/field It should be noted that I’m fairly sure that quite a few of these had a crowd of smaller than 5k, but I’m also pretty sure there’s not a squash court in the world which 5000 people can see at one time… ---
**Author:** ![chestnutmare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@chestnutmare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chestnutmare)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/9 "2003-07-26T18:04:01Z")
[nitpick] College sports are not professional sports even if 50,000 people attend[/nitpick] hmm as to the intent of the OP not many compared to some of the posts so I’ll just skip that part 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/10 "2003-07-26T19:09:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Isn’t ice hockey “real hockey”? No, it’s not 😉 For me: 1. Football (this is proper football ok!) at many levels 2. Cricket (one day to test match) 3. Horse Racing 4. Greyhound Racing 5. Rugby Union 6. Rugby League 7. Motor Racing 8. Speedway 9. Rallying 10. Powerboating 11. Cycling 12. Athletics ---
**Author:** ![JaxBeachBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@JaxBeachBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaxBeachBoy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/11 "2003-07-26T20:14:04Z")
Football (NFL and NCAA) Baseball (MLB, AAA, and AA) Basketball (NCAA and NBA) Hockey (minor leagues only) Nascar Formula 1 AMA Superbike Cart IRL Greyhound Racing Boxing ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/12 "2003-07-26T23:31:44Z")
I worked as a sports writer for a number of years. I went to sports that don’t even exist any more. One of the weirdest has to be standing poll vault…Then there’s always curling, professional arm wrestling, and Rollerball (the first time through in the early 70s). I’ve also covered professonal hang gliding, professional women’s football and even pancake racing. These are in addition to the regular sports that have been mentioned above. Being a sports journalist is a great profession but strange sometimes. As a matter of fact, I just got back today from covering a professional mud race. I am hot, tired and muddy, and I still have to file my story. TV ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/13 "2003-07-27T00:46:14Z")
Hockey - real hockey, ice hockey 😃 Football Baseball Basketball Horse Racing Dog Racing Jai-Ali Soccer - real football 🙂 Cricket - play was called off shortly after Tea :dubious: Boxing Marathon Drag Racing NASCAR racing Indy car racing Midget racing - the cars not people 🙂 Powerboat racing Big Wheel Trucks - yeeee haaa!!! :rolleyes: Tennis Bowling - zzzzz… :o Pool / Billiards Indoor Midget racing - once again, the cars 🙂 Arena Football College Football College Wrestling College Gymnastics College Track and Field College Baseball Minor League Baseball Pro Football Training Camp Bartenders Annual Footrace 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/14 "2003-07-27T10:42:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mhendo \* > By the way, **Big Nik** , look at no. 12 on your list. Now look at no. 15. 😃 Good point. Replace one with netball. And you can add Triathlon in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gone-to-the-most-types-of-professional-sporting-events/190999/15 "2003-07-27T10:44:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BigNik \* > \*\*And you can add Triathlon in there somewhere. \*\* Y’know - again. 'Cause I can’t be bothered actually _rereading_ my list.