The Sport Maine Loves the Most is the Same One America Can’t Get Enough Of

I remember growing up in the '80s when baseball was widely regarded as America's pastime. It felt like the only sport that truly mattered, and I wasn't the only one who thought so.

The entire nation seemed to have a love affair with baseball. Who could resist collecting cards, chewing on stale gum, tuning in to the All-Star game, or grabbing a bag of peanuts and Cracker Jacks at the ballpark?

Baseball is No Longer America's Pastime

Well, times have changed. Not only has baseball been usurped by football, but many other sports have also grown significantly more popular in America.

This is unquestionably a positive development. The increased exposure to a variety of sports has made us all better fans. We are now more knowledgeable about the major sports, as they have become more familiar.

The surge in sports popularity has also led to some rather surreal divisions across the country, and a recent study now reveals which sport is the most popular in each state.

Pro Football is America's New Favorite Pastime

World Population Review shared a report on the most popular sport in each state. The original study, conducted by myprotein.com, analyzed ticket sales and Wikipedia searches to determine the top sports. The results are quite interesting.

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A closer look reveals that professional football is the leader in the clubhouse, with a total of 21 states claiming it as number one. College football follows with 12 states, and NHL hockey comes in third with 6. My, how the mighty MLB has fallen.

New England's Favorite Sports

As for New England, here’s how it breaks down.

Maine, Rhode Island - Pro Football

This is not surprising. Maine and Rhode Island don't have professional teams, so one might assume the answer would be the most popular sport — and that's exactly what it is. I mean, who doesn't love pro football?

New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts - Pro Hockey

I simply refuse to believe that pro hockey is the most popular sport in Massachusetts. There's no way the Bruins are more popular than the Patriots, Red Sox, or even the Celtics. I just can't buy it.

As for New Hampshire and Vermont? Sure, why not. I mean, those states could just be a Canadian province. They are the Terrance and Phillip of America.

Connecticut - Pro Baseball

I like it—Connecticut going "old school" with its unabashed love of baseball. But which team is the state's favorite? I guess it depends on who you ask. Half the state bleeds red for the Sox, while the other half is all about those Yankee pinstripes.

This is just one region in a country map that is loaded with divisions. It's a very interesting map to take a look at. Check it out here.

What's your favorite sport?