Global interest in US sports undoubtedly provides exciting marketing and expansion possibilities for the each of the four major leagues.
One of the strongest markets is the United Kingdom, with sports fans across the country having an affinity with at least one North American sports team.
Each of the big leagues in the US have sought to cash in on this by staging games there, mostly in different venues around the capital.
London is a hugely popular destination for sports fans, with its infrastructure providing a wealth of other activities that people can enjoy.
A burgeoning theatre scene, live music and some of the best gambling venues in the world, are amongst a plethora of things worth checking out around the city. Read on as we look at the latest state-of-play for US sports in the UK.
NFL leading the way in London
American Football has a massive following in the UK and its popularity has risen since the introduction of the NFL International Series back in 2007.
The league initially played one game in London, but that has now risen to four which are hosted at Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will become the first NFL team to play two regular season games outside the US when they play twice at Wembley during the 2020 campaign.
Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons are also scheduled to play in London this year, with more teams still to be confirmed.
Basketball fans frustrated as NBA heads to Paris
London had been a regular fixture on the NBA Global Games circuit since 2010/11, but fans missed out this time around.
The NBA staged the European game in Paris in 2020, with Milwaukee Bucks defeating Charlotte Hornets 116-103 at the AccorHotels Arena.
Commissioner Adam Silver has since confirmed that Paris will be the host again in 2021, before moving the game around other European cities in subsequent years.
London is expected to get another bite of the cherry at some point in the future, but the NBA says is committed to expanding into other markets.
MLB makes it mark in London
The 2019 London Series were the first MLB games ever played in Europe and they proved to be a huge success.
The inaugural series was played between Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, with the Red Sox recording two victories.
Both events were a complete sell-out as families from across the UK took advantage to experience what baseball has to offer.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has already announced that more games will be staged in the UK and elsewhere in Europe in the future.
UK eager for the NHL to return
There is a misconception that ice hockey isn’t popular in the UK, but it is actually the most watched indoor sport there.
However, the NHL hasn’t staged a regular season match in the UK since 2007 and it seems unlikely that will change for the foreseeable future.
Boston Bruins were the last team to visit when they faced a Belfast Giants Select team in Northern Ireland back in 2010.
A fractured governance structure and a poorly run top league haven’t helped the UK’s cause and that has left ice hockey fans feeling extremely frustrated.