Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada

The 'Big Four' Leagues

The National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League are distinguished as the 'Big Four' due to their immense revenues, widespread popularity, and status as the top professional competitions in their sports worldwide. Each league operates as a closed system without promotion or relegation, maintaining franchise stability from season to season. They are the wealthiest club competitions in their respective sports, with the NFL, MLB, and NBA consistently ranking as the top three most lucrative sports leagues globally by revenue. These leagues have deep historical roots, with professional baseball, football, and hockey leagues operating continuously for over a century. Their games are broadcast on major American networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox, and they each operate their own dedicated television networks.

The NFL leads in television revenue, earning roughly $9 billion annually from its media partners. MLB earns approximately $2 billion annually from its national broadcast deals. The NBA's new television contract, effective from the 2025-26 season, is expected to generate about $6.9 billion per year. The NHL's combined U.S. and Canadian television rights are also valued in the billions, with a new 12-year Canadian agreement with Rogers worth C$11 billion starting in 2026. These financial resources support player salaries, stadium development, and the leagues' overall economic impact. The 'Big Four' model of franchise ownership, collective bargaining, and revenue sharing has become a standard for professional sports organization.

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the oldest of the major professional leagues, with its National League foundation dating to 1876. It consists of 30 teams, with 29 located in the United States and one, the Toronto Blue Jays, in Canada. MLB is traditionally called America's national pastime and was the first professional team sport in the United States. The league consistently draws the largest total attendance of any sports league in the world. MLB's structure is unique, having operated for decades with two separate leagues, the National League and the American League, which merged on an organizational level in 2000. The league champions have met in the World Series since 1903, a tradition interrupted only by a refusal to play in 1904 and a work stoppage in 1994.

The league's season runs from spring through autumn, with the World Series concluding in late October or early November. MLB teams play nearly every day during the season, leading to extensive local television contracts. Some teams, like the New York Yankees, own stakes in regional sports networks, generating significant local broadcast revenue. The collective local broadcast revenue for all MLB clubs amounts to multiple billions of dollars annually. MLB ballparks generally hold between 30,000 and 50,000 fans, contributing to the league's high attendance figures. The league's enduring popularity and historical significance make it a fundamental part of the North American sports landscape.

National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association is the premier professional basketball league in the world and the youngest of the 'Big Four' leagues. It was founded in 1949 through the merger of the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League, though it traces its founding to the BAA's 1946 start. The NBA currently has 30 teams, with 29 in the United States and one, the Toronto Raptors, in Canada. The league expanded further with the absorption of four teams from the rival American Basketball Association in 1976. The NBA enjoys massive domestic and international popularity, and as of 2022 it generated the most desktop web traffic globally among the major North American leagues. Its games are played indoors in arenas typically seating between 18,000 and 20,000 spectators.

The NBA's new television rights deal, which began with the 2025-26 season and runs through 2035-36, represents a massive financial leap. The deal with ABC/ESPN, NBC, Peacock, and Amazon is expected to generate total annual revenues of $6.9 billion. This is a dramatic increase from the previous deal, which generated $2.7 billion annually. The agreement also includes coverage for the Women's National Basketball Association. The NBA's season runs from October to June, with its playoffs being a major television event. While the NBA is the most watched basketball league in Canada, the country's official first-division professional league is the Canadian Elite Basketball League, as recognized by Canada Basketball.

National Football League

The National Football League is the preeminent professional American football league, founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association. It has 32 teams, all located in the United States, making it the only 'Big Four' league without a Canadian franchise. The NFL partially absorbed the All-America Football Conference in 1949 and merged with the American Football League in 1970. The league enjoys the highest per-game attendance of any domestic professional sports league in the world and is the most popular in the United States in terms of television ratings and merchandising. NFL stadiums are the largest on average globally, with capacities ranging from just over 60,000 to nearly 100,000 spectators.

The NFL's championship game, the Super Bowl, is the most watched annual event on American television. Super Bowl LIX set a record as the single most-watched program in U.S. television history. The league earns roughly $9 billion annually from its television contracts with partners including Amazon, CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBC for the 2023 through 2033 seasons. Unlike other major leagues, NFL teams do not negotiate local broadcast contracts for regular season games due to the once-a-week schedule, though they can make deals for preseason games. The NFL also plays a limited number of international games each year in stadiums in the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, and other countries.

National Hockey League

The National Hockey League is widely recognized as the world's premier professional ice hockey league and is the only 'Big Four' league founded in Canada, established in 1917. It originated as a successor to the Canadian National Hockey Association. The NHL currently has 32 teams, with 25 in the United States and 7 in Canada, giving it more Canadian franchises than MLB, the NBA, and MLS combined. The league is the most popular sports league in Canada and has a strong following in the northern and northeastern United States. In recent decades, the NHL has expanded into southern and western U.S. markets like Dallas, Tampa, Las Vegas, and Seattle to build a more national American audience.

The NHL's television rights are split between the United States and Canada. Its U.S. deal with ABC/ESPN and Turner Sports runs through the 2027-28 season and is reported to be worth about $625 million annually. In Canada, a landmark new 12-year agreement with Rogers Media was announced in April 2025. This deal, worth C$11 billion (approximately US$7.7 billion at announcement), grants Rogers Canadian broadcast rights from the 2026-27 season through 2037-38. The NHL plays its games in indoor arenas that typically hold between 18,000 and 20,000 fans. The league's season runs from October to June, culminating in the Stanley Cup playoffs, a major cultural event in Canada.

Major League Soccer and Canadian Football League

Major League Soccer and the Canadian Football League are major professional leagues that operate alongside the 'Big Four'. MLS is the top-level men's professional soccer league in the United States and also includes three Canadian teams: CF Montréal, Toronto FC, and the Vancouver Whitecaps. As of the 2025 season, MLS has 30 teams, with 27 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada, following the addition of San Diego FC. The league was established in 1996 as a condition for the United States hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup. MLS has grown significantly in popularity, aided by the Designated Player Rule adopted in 2007, which allowed for the signing of global stars like David Beckham and Lionel Messi.

The Canadian Football League is the highest level of play in Canadian football, featuring nine teams all based in Canada. It was organized in 1956 from two regional unions and became independent in 1958. The CFL awards the Grey Cup each November, the nation's highest-attended sporting event. The league has the fourth-highest average attendance among major leagues in the U.S. and Canada, behind the NFL, MLB, and MLS, with a 2024 average of 22,795. Its level of play is generally considered on the second tier of professional football globally. The CFL's current television deal with TSN pays at least $50 million per year through 2026, with a new agreement set for 2027 with TSN and DAZN worth $83 million annually.

MLS holds a unique position with its media rights and tournament schedule. Its primary media partner is Apple, which paid a reported $2.5 billion for exclusive worldwide streaming rights from 2023 to 2032. All league games are streamed on the MLS Season Pass. Linear television rights in Canada are held by TSN and RDS. MLS teams also participate in multiple separate tournaments outside their regular season, including the Canadian Championship for Canadian clubs and the continental CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Geographic Distribution and Attendance

The major professional sports leagues are concentrated in the most populous metropolitan areas of the United States and Canada. As of 2025, there are 153 major league franchises from the MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLS spread across 51 cities in North America. Ten cities have at least one team from every 'Big Four' league plus MLS: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. New York City has the most franchises with a total of 11 teams. Conversely, 12 cities have only one major league franchise, including four Canadian cities with sole NHL teams and U.S. cities like Green Bay, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Memphis.

Attendance is a key metric of these leagues' popularity. The NFL leads in average per-game attendance, with its large stadiums regularly filled. MLB draws the largest total annual attendance of any sports league in the world. MLS has seen its attendance grow steadily, reporting an average of over 22,000 per game and total attendance nearing 11 million, ranking it fifth in total attendance and third in average attendance among U.S. and Canadian leagues. The CFL maintains a strong average attendance above 22,000. The NHL and NBA, as indoor leagues, have arenas with capacities generally between 18,000 and 20,000, which they consistently fill. Many venues are multi-purpose, with 11 arenas currently shared by NBA and NHL teams.

Media Landscape and Economic Impact

The media rights deals for the major leagues represent some of the most valuable contracts in sports broadcasting. The NFL's $9 billion annual income from television leads the way. The NBA's new deal approaching $7 billion annually marks a significant escalation. The NHL's combined U.S. and Canadian rights are also multibillion-dollar enterprises. MLB's national contracts bring in around $2 billion per year. These deals are complemented by extensive local broadcast agreements for MLB, NBA, and NHL teams, which often provide a primary revenue source for individual franchises. All four major leagues also operate their own dedicated television networks.

For Canadian audiences, the media landscape involves simulcasts of U.S. broadcasts for MLB, NBA, and NFL games, along with dedicated national coverage for the NHL and CFL. The end of the NHL's long-standing broadcast relationship with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 2026 marked a significant shift, with Rogers securing exclusive long-term rights. The CFL's broadcast history includes decades on the CBC, a period on CTV, and its current primary partnership with TSN. The economic impact of these leagues extends beyond broadcasting to include ticket sales, merchandising, sponsorship, and the economic activity generated in host cities, solidifying their role as major cultural and commercial institutions.

Questions about Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada

Which major sports leagues have teams in Canada?

Canada is home to teams in several major leagues. The National Hockey League has seven Canadian teams, the most of any 'Big Four' league. Major League Soccer has three Canadian clubs: Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and CF Montréal. Major League Baseball has one team, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the National Basketball Association has one, the Toronto Raptors. The Canadian Football League, a major professional league in its own right, consists of nine teams all based in Canada. The National Football League does not have any franchises in Canada.

What is the newest team in the major leagues?

The most recent expansion in the major leagues occurred in Major League Soccer with the addition of San Diego FC, which began play in the 2025 season. This brought the total number of MLS teams to 30. Expansion rumours persist for other leagues, including speculation that the NBA may add two new franchises in the future. The total number of major league franchises across the five top leagues reached 153 in 2025.

How do Canadian TV rights for the NHL work?

The National Hockey League's Canadian television rights are held by Rogers Media under a landmark long-term agreement. Announced in April 2025, this 12-year deal is worth C$11 billion and runs from the 2026-27 season through the 2037-38 season. This replaced a previous agreement with Rogers that began in 2014 and ended after the 2025-26 season. For decades prior, the NHL had a historic broadcast partnership with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which ended in 2026. The new deal ensures extensive national coverage of NHL games across Canada for the foreseeable future.

How can I watch MLS games in Canada?

Major League Soccer games are available in Canada through a combination of streaming and linear television. The league's primary worldwide streaming partner is Apple, with all matches available on the MLS Season Pass service on Apple TV. Games involving Canadian teams include French commentary. For traditional television broadcasts, linear rights in Canada for the 2023 through 2026 seasons are held by the English-language network TSN and the French-language network RDS. This structure provides Canadian fans with multiple options to follow the three Canadian MLS clubs and the rest of the league.

What is the oldest professional sports league in North America?

Major League Baseball is the oldest of the major professional sports leagues. Its National League was founded in 1876, and the American League followed in 1901. The two leagues began cooperating with the World Series in 1903 and merged organizationally in 2000. The Canadian Football League has roots that trace back even earlier through its predecessor organizations, like the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (1907), but the CFL itself was formally organized in 1956. The NHL was founded in 1917, the NFL in 1920, and the NBA in 1949.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.