The state of Michigan is known for many notable things, from its automotive history and beautiful nature to the great fishing and wonderful museums. Another thing that the state is famous for is its sports teams. While not every team in the state is the best in their particular leagues, they are beloved in the area and have many fans. That’s why today we’re covering the most popular sports teams in Michigan.
To determine the most popular teams, 24/7 Tempo looked at various metrics, including fan attendance, history, and general likeability. We researched these facts on Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and Fox Sports. Many attendance metrics were taken from Statistica and Sports Business Journal. So, without further ado, here are the five most popular sports teams in Michigan.
Detroit Lions
If you ask the everyday person on the street about one sports team in the state, they will likely say the Detroit Lions because they are easily one of the most popular sports teams in Michigan. The football team has been around in some capacity since 1930. The team started as the Portsmouth Spartans out of Ohio but relocated to Detroit to become the Lions in 1934. The Lions were great back in the day. They had won four NFL championships before 1957. However, since then, it’s been a dry spell.
Still, regardless of how bad they were, fans in Michigan stuck around, and their wait has paid off. During the last two seasons, the Lions have made a marked improvement and won their division in 2023. During this most recent season, the team has attracted over 518,000 fans to home and away games. The future looks very promising for this team, and people are excited. Plus, they’re the only NFL team in Michigan, so they will likely remain one of the more beloved teams in the state for the foreseeable future.
Detroit Tigers
When it comes to the MLB in Michigan, you really only have one choice when it comes to the major teams, and it’s the Detroit Tigers. Luckily, the baseball fans in Michigan do enjoy them. During the 2023 season, the team attracted 1,612,876 fans to their home and away games, which isn’t spectacular, but it meant that the seats weren’t empty either. The Tigers have been around since 1901, and they’ve had some bright moments over the years. They won several division titles and American League Pennants. They also have four World Series wins. However, the most recent was in 1984, so there hasn’t been a lot of action in a while.
Still, fans in Michigan are still excited about the Tigers. In recent years, the team has attracted better talent, with the likes of pitcher Kenta Maeda and shortstop Javier Baez, so the future is beginning to look bright. Whether good or bad, as the only major league team, they’ll likely continue being one of the most popular sports teams in Michigan going forward.
Detroit Pistons
The NBA team in Michigan is the Detroit Pistons. People in Michigan enjoy the Pistons, but part of it may be that they’re the only option in the state. During 2023, the Pistons had over 759,000 fans attend home and away games, which actually puts them in 12th place among the other teams in the league. In 2024, they’ve already had over 368,000 fans come through the doors. In addition to being the only game in town, people also like the Pistons due to their colorful history. They’ve been around since 1937 under different names, so there’s a lot of fond memories.
Since they became the Pistons, they have won three NBA championships, with the most recent being in 2004. They’ve also had 11 division titles and five conference titles, so people are sticking around to see when they’ll return to their old form. The team is also known for having wild players, including Dennis Rodman and Adrian Dantley, which helped the team create a more defense-oriented style of play. This season has not been great for the Pistons as they have not won 10 games yet during the season, but fans are sticking around to see what happens next.
Detroit Red Wings
The hockey fans in Detroit also only have one option when it comes to their hockey entertainment, which is among the reasons why the Red Wings are one of the most popular sports teams in Michigan. Over the 2022-2023 season, the team saw an average attendance of close to 19,000 fans. Overall, they had 771,573 fans at home and away games, which is higher than in previous years.
The team, which has been around since 1926 under different names has had its ups and downs. Throughout its history, the team has won 11 Stanley Cups, six conference championships, and 19 division championships. Their most recent Stanley Cup win was in 2008, so it’s not too distant of a memory, but it’s been a while. They haven’t had a winning season in the last couple of years, but they’ve made some coaching changes, so the future can be promising. Most fans will stick around to be a part of the next winning season.
Michigan Wolverines
When it comes to college football in Michigan, there’s no denying the popularity of the Wolverines. It’s not hard to imagine after you consider that this team has the most wins in all of college football history. They most recently won the National Football Championship in 2023, so fans aren’t likely to lose excitement any time soon. The team has been especially exceptional under coach Jim Harbaugh, who has an 89–25 win-to-loss record.
According to Fox Sports, the Michigan Wolverines are the second most popular college football team in the country. According to polling data, the team has over 4.4 million fans across the nation, and many of them are in Michigan. When it comes to college sports teams, the Wolverines are to be feared, and the fans love them for that. (Click to read about the most popular pro sports teams.)