Who's the Biggest Fan? Sports Culture in the UK vs USA

Since we landed in the UK, we've learned that folks in the UK and USA have plenty of similarities and differences. We’re not just talking about the accent, though! Nuh-uh. There are differences in gambling slang, online casino rules, favourite slots and even the business of sports.

And talking of sports, ever wondered which country boasts the biggest sports culture? Sure, the USA are known for supersized sporting action, but does the UK love sports even more than fans in the States?

The good news is that we've got experience of both sides, so y'all are in the right place. See, as an American casino sitting pretty in the UK, we've seen first-hand all there is to know about the sports industry in the UK versus the USA. 

Wanna know the verdict? Of course, you do. Go on, kick back and let us fill you in on who has the keenest sports fans.

Stadium capacities

Given that the USA loves supersizing all the best things in life, and that almost five times the amount of people live in the USA compared to the UK, it won't be a major shock to y'all that the biggest sports stadiums are Stateside.

The eight biggest sports venues in the USA can host more than 100,000 fans at a time, so there are plenty of ticket opportunities if you fancy a break from playing blackjack at our awesome online casino.

Each arena hosts a college football team. The biggest is Michigan Stadium, home of the Michigan Wolverines, who won the national title in 2023. That's over 100,000 seats at a university football team stadium! 

Struggling to imagine 100,000 fans piling into a university arena to watch university soccer in the UK? We don't blame you. See, Wembley Stadium only has capacity for just over 90,000 fans –– and that's the UK's biggest sporting stadium. 

Wembley may be smaller than the USA's stadiums, but it still offers plenty of sporting thrills. It plays host to a wide range of sporting events, including rugby league and international games from the National Football League (NFL), usually featuring the Jacksonville Jaguars, which shows how many UK fans are keen for a slice of American sporting fun.

Now, onto those international fixtures, folks…

International fixtures

While British domestic games have yet to make the trip across the pond, US sports have been making waves internationally for almost two decades. The NFL touched down in the UK for the first time in 2007, and now sends six teams across the Atlantic every year to deliver the American gaming experience to their buddies in England. Major League Baseball is now an annual home run at the London Stadium too.

There has been much more resistance to shipping games involving British teams abroad, given that they are more traditional sports teams rather than franchises. Rumours are circling that Premier League games may move internationally, but for now American soccer fans settle for the Summer Series, with teams scheduling friendly matches in stadiums across the States.

Some teams in the Premier League do qualify for European games, which can mean travelling across the continent for fans. This only applies to select clubs based on their performance, so only seven or eight teams per season have to deal with it.

Fans of all teams can be expected to travel, but those in the US undoubtedly have a tougher task if they want to grab a seat at every game. The most passionate may be in their home stadium one week, and then travelling across the Atlantic the next – that's some going.

Travelling to away games

Talking of travel, fans in the USA usually have to travel much further than those in the UK if they want to watch their team on the road, particularly in the NFL. Supporters of teams on the West Coast like the San Francisco 49ers have to fly over seven hours if they play in the East against the New England Patriots.

On this side of the Atlantic, there are nowhere near as many domestic flights, meaning supporters either take the train or drive. The longest possible journey for English soccer fans would be if a match was held Plymouth Argyle and Newcastle United, which would see the away team's local supporters have to saddle up for a seven-hour journey. Fortunately, these teams are in different divisions, so the chances of this happening are slim.

There is a much bigger culture in the UK of fans going on the road to watch their teams, particularly in sports like soccer and rugby league. However, don't be surprised to see visiting NFL supporters take over stadiums – the 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys are super well followed, and have often had more fans in the arena than the home team!

Derbies and rivalries

There's a much bigger focus on derbies and rivalries in the UK, and the size of the country is a major contributing factor here. In English soccer, three games are played between teams separated by less than half a mile - Dundee and Dundee United, Nottingham Forest and Notts County, plus Everton and Liverpool. 

And it's not just soccer that creates rivalries. In cricket, there is the famous Roses match between Lancashire and Yorkshire, two counties that share borders. The rugby union fixture between Northampton and Leicester is also a hot topic, as well as Wigan and St. Helens in the rugby league. 

Back in the USA, teams do have rivalries, but they are much further afield. The most intense in the NFL is arguably between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, which dates back more than 100 years. In other American sports, you have the Boston Red Sox v the New York Yankees (baseball) and the Boston Celtics v the La Lakers, but these are mostly based on success rather than location.

So, while the intense matchups in the UK can make it feel like they have the bigger fans, the geography of those teams plays a big part. It's hard to argue that supporters in the US aren't as attached to their clubs when they’re flying for multiple hours to watch a game.

Chants and atmosphere

While the mood in the live chat on our online slots and casino games may be friendly between gaming buddies, the crowds at sporting events can have a different attitude.

Officials, opposing supporters and players are all the target of various chants at UK soccer matches, as the anticipation of watching their team gets fans heated. Some of the least offensive versions include "you don't know what you're doing" and "sit down, shut up", but we'll leave the rest for you to search. 

Over in the States, there are fewer chants from folks watching the action, particularly in the NFL where it is more about distracting the visiting team in a bid to throw their game. Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers are two teams with fans that are particularly keen on this tactic. These supporters are known to wave white towels and blow loud whistles while plays are called.

The passion of fans on both sides of the pond is incredible, so we find it hard to split them. We do know a thing or two about UK and US casino gaming, though.

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