3. Wimbledon
The pinnacle of tennis, where historical sporting moments are created and legends are made, Wimbledon is one of the most iconic events in the sporting world.
Wimbledon is an incredible event, from the perfect green surfaces and celebrity crowd to the mandatory sporting attire and Henman Hill.
Coming back in history and tradition since its inception in 1877, Wimbledon is one of the world’s biggest sporting events for sure. The 2016 tournament was the biggest on record, reaching an audience of 1 billion people in 200 countries and territories around the world, according to Wimbledon.
While the Championship makes just under £40 million on the grounds of the All England Club itself, Wimbledon generates just over £150 million overall, with TV revenue included, according to Mic.
2. Super Bowl
Coming in at the second place is the biggest event on the NFL calendar is the Super Bowl. Many might be surprised by this ranking given the mass amount of coverage the event receives each year, but the rest assured it has been pipped to top spot by a colossal competition.
The Super Bowl is the final championship game of the NFL season, and in the 2017 showcase, it drew in 111.3 million viewers on average during the game and $2 billion in broadcasting rights revenue, according to Reuters.
Incredibly, the halftime show of Lady Gaga caught the eye of 117.5 million viewers to become the second highest viewership spike, which was bettered only by 117.7 million who watched the overtime.
1. UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is the ultimate football club tournament on the earth. It brings the top leagues in Europe together, pitting champions against champions in order to see who is the greatest football side on the continent.
The tournament stretches over a 9-month period in coordination with the continent’s domestic leagues. The Champions League final draws a TV audience of 400 million people each year, with viewers tuning in from 200 countries and territories, according to Vocativ.