National Sports Leagues: Structure, Geography, and Impact

Posted on Mar 14, 2026 in International Business Economics

Definitions

  • Sport: A physical activity involving a set of rules or customs, practiced at a national or international scale.
  • Sports League: An organization coordinating a group of individual clubs that compete in a specific sport over a period of time for a championship.
  • Sports Division: A group of teams that compete against one another for a divisional title.
  • League System: A number of leagues tied together in a hierarchical fashion.
  • Sphere of Influence: The maximum distance from an event’s location that individuals are willing and able to travel to spectate or participate in the sporting event.

Sports Leagues

Major League Baseball (MLB)

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of professional baseball in North America, featuring 30 teams across the U.S. and Canada. Formed by the merger of the National and American Leagues in 1903, it is recognized as the premier professional baseball league globally and governs the sport’s top-tier competition, culminating in the annual World Series.
  • Structure: 30 teams divided equally into two leagues: the National League (NL) and the American League (AL).
  • Divisions: Each league is split into three 5-team divisions: East, Central, and West.
  • Geography: 29 teams in the USA and 1 team in Toronto, Canada.
  • Seasonality: Spring training begins in late February; the postseason concludes in early November.
  • Championship: The winner of the World Series is crowned the “World Champion.”

Distribution of Supporters

Most teams in the top league of their national sports derive support from a wide area.
  • Demographics: 61.3% of fans in the US are male; 38.7% are female.
  • Attendance: NL teams historically average higher attendance (approx. 30,557 fans per game) compared to AL clubs (approx. 23,784 fans).

MLB Popularity and Player Contracts

  • Total Contract Value: As of the 2025-26 offseason, Juan Soto holds the record with a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets (2025-2039).
  • Single-Season Salary: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) holds the top spot with a $70 million salary for 2024 and 2025.

Factors Affecting Sports League Geography

  • Sphere of Influence: Top-tier teams (e.g., New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Manchester United, Barcelona) command a wide fan base, whereas lower-league teams have a narrower, localized sphere of influence.
  • Technological Impact: Television and internet streaming allow fans to follow teams remotely, which also benefits hospitality businesses like bars.
  • Fan Mobility: Migration for university or employment often broadens a team’s fan base geographically.