Top 100 Events in the United States 2018 - Sports Events

National
#1 Sports Event
The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41-33 to win Super Bowl LII, which took place at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Justin Timberlake headlined the Pepsi-sponsored halftime show, where he performed a medley of his songs as well as a tribute to hometown legend Prince. Brands including DirecTV, Playboy, and Maxim held major events during the weekend, but ESPN opted out for the first time in more than a decade to focus on its College Football Playoff presence. The game averaged 103.4 million viewers, making it the least-watched Super Bowl since 2009. Next year’s game will take place in Atlanta. Next: February 3, 2019

National
#2 Sports Event (up from #3)
The 2018 tournament was one of the most viewed and attended events in its history, with more than 97 million watching the game broadcasts throughout the tournament and 67,831 people attending the championship game at San Antonio’s Alamodome. Villanova dominated the tournament and defeated Michigan 79-62 to win its second national championship in three years. Next year’s tournament will take place in Minneapolis. Next: April 6-8, 2019

National
#3 Sports Event
The Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers four games to three to win their first World Series and become the first team from Texas to do so. Game 7 of the baseball championship’s 113th edition, which took place at Dodger Stadium, drew 28.22 million viewers—30 percent down from the 2016 Game 7 when the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years. Still, the 2017 championship was the second most-watched baseball game broadcast in more than 13 years. Next: October 23-31, 2018

New York
#4 (up from #5)
The annual tennis tournament celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, highlighted by the completion of the five-year, $600 million transformation of the U.S.T.A. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and a new logo. Notably, the tournament’s women’s final ended in dramatic fashion, with Naomi Osaka defeating Serena Williams—a game that was marred by confrontations between Williams and the umpire, who issued three penalties against her. Due to 100-plus degree temperatures, the tournament implemented its first Extreme Heat Policy, which gave players the option of a 10-minute break between certain sets. The event’s buzzy highlights included an opening night performance by Kelly Clarkson and interactive, tech-fueled experiences from sponsors American Express and I.B.M. Next: August 26-September 8, 2019

Daytona Beach, Florida
#5 Sports Event
Austin Dillon won the 60th running of the Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series race, driving a No. 3 Chevrolet—a car that racing legend Dale Earnhardt drove when he won the Daytona 500 in 1998, and when he was killed in an accident in 2001. According to ESPN, Dillon is the second driver to win the race after leading only the final lap. Ratings hit a record low, earning a 5.3 rating and 9.3 million viewers on Fox. Next: February 17, 2019

Augusta, Georgia
#6 Sports Event
The 82nd edition of the tournament was won by Patrick Reed, who shot 1-under-par 71 to finish 15-under, ahead of Rickie Fowler. This was the 27-year-old’s fifth Masters Tournament, and previously he had never finished in the top 20. CBS’s coverage of the final round saw an 18-percent jump in ratings, with an average of 13 million viewers—making it the most-watched final round of the Masters since 2015. Next: April 11-14, 2019

Louisville, Kentucky
#7 Sports Event
Justify and jockey Mike Smith braved the event’s wettest weather in history to win the 144th running of the race. The win marked the first time since 1882 that the race was won by a three-year-old horse that didn’t race as a two-year-old—and also marked the sixth year in a row that the favorite has won. Ratings for the race tied a 12-year low, as NBC’s broadcast scored an 8.5 rating and 14.9 million viewers. Next: May 4, 2019

Boston
#8 Sports Event
Incessant rain and wind along with cold temperatures marred the 122nd running of the Boston Athletic Association race, which had 30,000 runners and around 500,000 spectators. Desiree Linden became the first American woman to win the marathon in 33 years. On the men’s side, Yuki Kawauchi of Japan beat defending champion Geoffrey Kirui for his first major marathon win. Next: April 15, 2019

New York
#9 Sports Event
The 142nd edition of the dog show expanded its coverage this year, airing the competition for three consecutive days on Fox, FS1, and Nat Geo Wild, while also airing the finals of the fifth annual Masters Agility Championship on Fox. Flynn, a five-year-old Bichon Frise, won Best in Show at Madison Square Garden. More than 3,200 dogs across three sports competed in the show, which reached its confirmation limit of 2,800. Next: February 9, 11-12, 2019