5 Most Viewed Outdoor Sports Events of All Time

People from all over the world tune into sporting events, even if their home team isn’t even playing! These outdoor events bring in millions, sometimes even billions of viewers for a single game! Sports events such as the Olympic Games, the World Cup, and the Super Bowl are often the most anticipated events of the year. However, there are a handful of incredible events that broke all the records; one even reached more than half of the entire world’s population! In today’s blog, Hoover Met Complex lists the five most viewed outdoor sports events of all time.

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5. 2015 Rugby World Cup – 1 Billion Viewers

The Rugby World Cup is a relatively new competition, founded in 1987. Despite its youth, this event attracted 1 billion viewers in the 2015 competition! Twenty countries participated in this outdoor event, leading to the final game with New Zealand battling Australia. The reigning champions, New Zealand, defended their title by defeating Australia with a score of 34-17. While rugby might not be as popular as football in America, rugby attracts a much larger crowd worldwide!

4. 2015 Cricket World Cup – 2.2 Billion Viewers

With around 2.5 billion fans, cricket is the second most popular sport in the world! This intricate sport has won the hearts of many European, Asian, and Australia countries because of its competitive nature and intensity. Australia and New Zealand jointly held the 2015 Cricket World Cup, and for the fifth time, Australia took home the victory. The 2015 Cricket World Cup spanned from February 14th – March 29th, with an attendance of over one million people!

3. 2018 Tour de France – 3.5 Billion Viewers

Cycling might not come to mind when you are considering the most watched sports. However, the Tour de France attracted just over 3.5 billion viewers in 2018! The Tour de France is a 3,351 kilometer (2,082 miles) race that consists of 21 stages. This 2018 event spanned from July 7th – July 29th as 176 cyclists raced throughout the country of France. With tired legs, Geraint Thomas from Great Britain finally crossed the finish line to take the gold!

2. 2018 FIFA World Cup – 3.6 Billion Viewers

Soccer is the most popular sport of all-time, and it attracts millions, even billions of viewers to multiple outdoor events throughout the year. The most popular event every four years is the FIFA World Cup which consists of 64 matches throughout a month of action. In the 2018 Cup, more than 3 million were in attendance, and 3.6 billion people watched! Held in Russia, the World Cup Final was France vs. Croatia, finishing with France winning by a score of 4-2. 

1. 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games – 4.7 Billion Viewers

The Summer Olympic Games is arguably the most anticipated event every four years. Because so many countries are represented in the Olympics, they attract massive viewership. Though all Olympic Games attract billions of viewers, the 2008 Games in Beijing reached more than half of the world’s population!

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Tune in to Events at Hoover Met Complex

Outdoor events gather crowds by the masses, giving fans an experience they will never forget. If you are looking for a great place to catch a competitive outdoor sports event, check out a baseball game at the Hoover Met Stadium! Hoover Met Complex also has the Finley Center for all of your indoor sports needs. They also allow you to schedule your own events here. Questions? Contact us or call 205-739-7364 today!