In the return of our "Body Count," THE DAILY estimates 
     that 204,739,463 people attended professional sporting
     events in North America during the '96-97 season.  That
     breaks down to seven paid entries to a sporting event for
     every ten people in North America.
          THE BIG WINNER: Baseball's 23 leagues had more than 94
     million paid spectators in its '96 season, accounting for
     46% of "The Body Count."  Hockey and basketball came in a
     distant second and third, respectively.
          METHODOLOGY: THE DAILY compiled attendance figures for
     11 professional sports in North America to come up with "The
     Body Count."  For sports in which the schedules span over
     one calendar year, the '96-97 seasons were used.  These
     numbers are not meant to be exact; rather, they estimate the
     total number of people attending sports events over '96-97.
          EXCLUDED: Figures were not available for the following
     leagues/sports: AVP, boxing, LPGA, Sr. PGA, IndyCar,
     thoroughbred racing, U.S. Track & Field Association, figure
     skating or the rodeo circuit.  The '96 Atlanta Olympics were
     not included in our "Body Count," but the Games announced
     that 8,400,000 tickets were sold for the events (THE DAILY).
     

  
 
    
RANK
    
SPORT
    
BODY 
      COUNT
  
  
 
    
 
      
1
    
    
BASEBALL 
      (MLB, Minors)
    
 
      
94,397,714
    
  
  
 
    
 
      
2
    
    
HOCKEY 
      (NHL, IHL, AHL, etc.)
    
 
      
38,664,651
    
  
  
 
    
 
      
3
    
    
BASKETBALL 
      (NBA, CBA, USBA, WNBA, ABL)
    
 
      
24,780,866
    
  
  
 
    
 
      
4
    
    
FOOTBALL 
      (NFL, AFL, CFL)
    
 
      
18,520,649
    
  
  
 
    
 
      
5
    
    
AUTO 
      RACING (CART, NASCAR, NHRA, SCCA, IROC)
    
 
      
13,846,267
    
  
  
 
    
 
      
6
    
    
SOCCER 
      (MLS, CISL, NPSL, USISL)
    
 
      
6,424,238
    
  
  
 
    
 
      
7
    
    
GOLF 
      (PGA Tour)
    
 
      
4,294,095
    
  
  
 
    
 
      
8
    
    
TENNIS 
      (ATP Tour, WTA Tour)
    
 
      
2,807,197
    
  
  
 
    
 
      
9
    
    
BOWLING 
      (PBA Tour)
    
 
      
500,000
    
  
  
 
    
 
      
10
    
    
LACROSSE 
      (MILL)
    
 
      
347,786
    
  
  
 
    
 
      
11
    
    
VOLLEYBALL 
      (WPVA Tour, NVA Tour)
    
 
      
156,000
    
  
  
 
    

  
  
 
    
 
      

    
    
THE 
      DAILY'S "BODY COUNT"
    
 
      
204,739,463
    
  
  
 
    
 
      

    
    
Population of U.S./Canada
    
 
      
294,928,745
    
  

        
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