Most Dominant College Sport

[Third and Long]

I was just wondering what yall thought was the most dominant college sport. I know opinions will probably vary because of the region. Just wondering....

[ngineer]

I was just wondering what yall thought was the most dominant college sport. I know opinions will probably vary because of the region. Just wondering....

Define 'dominant.' Attendance? Participation? Season?

[Tod]

I would say football followed very closely by basketball. It could go the other way, but it's got to be those two sports.

[Ronbo]

Well at Montana it's football, it is our revenue maker and helps support the other sports. Our gates from football are $550,000 just in ticket sales. Those gate revenues X 7 games is 3,850,000.

Basketball is averaging 5000 fans mens and around 3800 womens. They each play about 13 home games. So revenue from Montana basketball gates is about $1,029,600. That doesn't cover the costs of running the Basketball programs. I think expenses for men's and women's basketball is $1,500,000 maybe more.

For some schools basketball pays, if you can get 15,000 fans a game men and 5000 a game for women like some big programs do. And you charge $15-$20 for tickets you can make some serious revenue.

[Third and Long]

Define 'dominant.' Attendance? Participation? Season?
What people care about more.

[Marcus Garvey]

I'm going with football. Overall, football brings in more money for most schools than Men's BBall. Now obviously, at many schools basketball is bigger (Duke, UNC, Indiana, Wake Forest, etc...), but overall, football is the beast that drives college athletics, and has done so for over 100 years!

Basketball did not even approach football's level until the 80's, when the Men's tournament began to command millions upon millions (later billions) of dollars from the networks for broadcast rights.

In addition, there's a tendancy to dismiss colleges as "not significant" if they don't have a football program, no matter what level the program would play on. This isn't fair, but it's reality.

[Tribefan]

Football followed closely by March Madness.

The very nature of college football makes it bigger. It happens at the perfect time of the year, it has a short season. Every game seems like the most important game of the year. In basketball we have seen several teams seemingly sleepwalk through a season and then win the NCAAs.

[grizband]

Football followed closely by March Madness.

The very nature of college football makes it bigger. It happens at the perfect time of the year, it has a short season. Every game seems like the most important game of the year. In basketball we have seen several teams seemingly sleepwalk through a season and then win the NCAAs.
Football is first, followed by March Madness (not the regular season). I know alot of sports fans who say they only really watch college basketball in March. I think this changes a bit when you get regional. During the winter, in states like Minnesota, hockey is king.

[crunifan]

At UNI it is very much football. Same with Iowa and Iowa State.

[Pard4Life]

I live in the souless NYC suburbs, so none of the above.

But a guess, I'd say hoops... Seton Hall and Rutgers grab alot of press.

[ngineer]

Football and wrestling are king in the Lehigh Valley. While more people attend football games, I would guess the percentage of attendance in relation to gym capacity may give wrestling and edge. The Lehigh Valley has FOUR high schools that are ranked nationally in wrestling. The District XI Dual Championships will be held next week at Bethlehem's Liberty HS Gym and will be full --3,000 people. Dual meets at Easton's 25th Street Gym are frequently SRO (cap. 1,800). Basketball is good, but doesn't have the rabid following wrestling does.

[Third and Long]

Would anybody say in thier hometown/region baseball is a dominant sport? I know college really isn't, but what about highschool?

[ngineer]

Would anybody say in thier hometown/region baseball is a dominant sport? I know college really isn't, but what about highschool?

There are few High Schools around here that are VERY strong in baseball. Though not technically in the "Lehigh Valley", there is a high school program that has been a perennial power in baseball for 50 years--Boyertown, PA. Located about 20 miles south of Allentown, 8 miles north of Pottstown. They and their related American Legion team have been one of the most dominant teams in eastern US for decades. One of the few high schools that I ever heard of the charges admission for its ball games. Their ball park rivals some minor league stadiums--chairback seats, roof over stands, lights, bullpens with phones,...They have been hosting the American Legion World Series every so many years.

[Third and Long]

There are few High Schools around here that are VERY strong in baseball. Though not technically in the "Lehigh Valley", there is a high school program that has been a perennial power in baseball for 50 years--Boyertown, PA. Located about 20 miles south of Allentown, 8 miles north of Pottstown. They and their related American Legion team have been one of the most dominant teams in eastern US for decades. One of the few high schools that I ever heard of the charges admission for its ball games. Their ball park rivals some minor league stadiums--chairback seats, roof over stands, lights, bullpens with phones,...They have been hosting the American Legion World Series every so many years.
Speaking of American Legion, have you ever heard of the Bryan Packers from West Point, MS? They won American Legion a couple of years ago. I have heard of several high schools charging for their baseball games.

[LeopardFan04]

There are few High Schools around here that are VERY strong in baseball. Though not technically in the "Lehigh Valley", there is a high school program that has been a perennial power in baseball for 50 years--Boyertown, PA. Located about 20 miles south of Allentown, 8 miles north of Pottstown. They and their related American Legion team have been one of the most dominant teams in eastern US for decades. One of the few high schools that I ever heard of the charges admission for its ball games. Their ball park rivals some minor league stadiums--chairback seats, roof over stands, lights, bullpens with phones,...They have been hosting the American Legion World Series every so many years.

Bear Stadium in Boyertown has also hosted the A-10 Tournament, as well as multiple DIII regionals...it's one of my favorite places...I've probably been to several hundred games there growing up in the area...and yes, although football and wrestling are big, in Boyertown baseball is king.