Sports fandoms often go hand in hand with certain stereotypes. From golfers and tennis fans rolling in cash to snooker fans only coming from economically disadvantaged areas of Northern England.
For some sports, the stereotype rings true. Snooker is most popular among people earning less than £20,000 a year and the World Snooker Championships have taken place in Sheffield since 1977. However, this isn’t always the case.
But which sports fans earn the most? Prime Casino delved into the data to find the sports with the wealthiest UK fans.
1) Tennis Average annual fan salary: £36,231
Tennis fans are the wealthiest fans in the UK, with an average salary of £36,231. Many tennis players come from affluent backgrounds, which can influence the fanbase’s demographic, as fans are often drawn to athletes who reflect their own social status.
2) Basketball Average annual fan salary: £36,191
Basketball takes second place. As the sport is still growing in popularity in the UK, it attracts more dedicated fans. These fans often have the disposable income to travel internationally to watch games in person, which could explain why the average basketball fan in the UK earns £36,191 a year.
3) Baseball Average annual fan salary: £36,106
Despite being known as America’s pastime, baseball is also beginning to attract UK fans. Baseball games are not widely broadcast in the UK, so fans need a subscription to streaming services such as Apple TV+ or TNT. These streaming services require more disposable income to afford. This could explain why UK baseball fans have the third highest income, averaging £36,106.
4) Field hockey Average annual fan salary: £35,976
In fourth place is field hockey. In the UK, the sport is primarily associated with wealthier fans as its popular in private schools and playing field hockey fosters a love of the sport. Private schools have greater access to specialised facilities like astroturf pitches. The average field hockey fan earns £35,976 annually.
