A recent survey commissioned by The Strategic Counsel revealed that over 75% of Canadians identify as sports enthusiasts, with the NHL maintaining its status as the most favored professional sports league. The comprehensive study involved 3,240 Canadians from diverse regions, conducting interviews in both official languages.
Of the respondents, 77% acknowledged being sports fans, with 29% categorizing themselves as “big fans.” Nearly half of the participants either casually followed various leagues or were devoted fans of one league. Surprisingly, 23% admitted to being non-fans, completely disengaged from any sports leagues.
The NHL emerged as the most popular league nationwide, with 58% of respondents expressing interest in the men’s professional hockey league. Following closely were the NFL (37%), MLB (34%), CFL (32%), and NBA (29%), occupying the top five positions in terms of national following.
Formula One auto racing claimed the sixth spot with 24% support, while professional tennis garnered 20% interest. The PGA Tour and Major League Soccer tied for eighth place, with the Professional Women’s Hockey League and Ultimate Fighting Championship securing the last two spots in the top ten rankings.
Interestingly, major junior hockey could have made it into the top 10 in specific regions. The Western Hockey League would have ranked sixth in Western Canada, and the Ontario Hockey League would have achieved the same position in Ontario if considered alongside professional leagues.
Among female respondents, half of them followed the NHL (50%), making it the most popular league among women. The NFL (26%), MLB (23%), CFL, and NBA (both at 22%) completed the top five followed by the PWHL (15%). Surprisingly, the PWHL, despite its recent establishment, surpassed longstanding organizations like MLS and the PGA Tour in female following.
Notable upcoming leagues, such as the WNBA and the Northern Super League, are also gaining traction among female sports enthusiasts. The anticipation for the Toronto Tempo’s launch next year and the successful debut of the Northern Super League indicate a promising future for women’s sports viewership.
Survey participants named Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers as their favorite athlete, closely followed by Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Soccer icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi secured the third and fourth spots, respectively, with Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs rounding up the top five.
Regional preferences were also evident, with local heroes like Cole Caufield in Quebec and Brad Gushue in Atlantic provinces receiving notable recognition. The survey, conducted from March 15 to 22, utilized online methods, precluding the assignment of a margin of error due to the lack of random population sampling.