Interest in modern sports has changed significantly in the last decade as the prevalence and availability of new non-traditional sports has increased to UK residents through television, the internet and increased coverage in mainstream media. The traditional favorites of soccer, cricket, rugby and boxing are beginning to give way to other sports.
professional wrestlingMost commonly seen in WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) competition, it has been popular for many years in the UK, but has managed to keep many fans who were first introduced to the sport as children interested as they grow into adults. In the same way that mixed martial arts has done, professional wrestling is challenging boxing as a popular contact sport. The emergence of scripted storylines and fights, along with brand name wrestlers and famous contestants has led to a strong cult following that shows no signs of waning.
football it is an excellent example of a relatively new sport gaining ground in England and Great Britain. The main competition available to England fans is the NFL, one of the largest American football organizations in the world. During the regular and subsequent seasons, games can be found on pay-TV channels, as well as late-night specials on free channels. Growing awareness of American football rules and stars has led to a growing NFL and American football fan base on this side of the pond. Both evidence and a partial cause of this is seen in the few NGL matches that have been played at Wembley Stadium in the UK.
mixed martial arts is another example of a relatively new global sport that has become popular in Britain. Focusing primarily on the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is steadily replacing boxing as the favorite combat sport among many Britons. Such a growing fan base and touring UK events, along with UK venue events, merchandise and media coverage has meant that in the near future, Mixed Martial Arts may overtake boxing as the leading combat sport seen on our televisions, potentially upending the sporting world.
Soccer, or soccer in the United States, is definitely a UK sports fan favorite and this is unlikely to change as it remains the biggest sport and in many ways the best spectator sport, both on and off the pitch. Lots of money and popular personalities have resulted in entertainment on the pitch with exciting teams, players competing in fantastic leagues and tournaments, while off the pitch soccer stars are more popular than ever. The English Premier League, UEFA Champions League and home country internationals are the most popular matches for UK fans, but recently with coverage of foreign leagues and competitions such as the US soccer leagues and the many European leagues, interest in non-domestic competitions has been on the rise.