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| *[[Sports teams and events in the North America by statistical area]] | | *[[Market Saturation]] |
| ==Current Major and Notable Leagues== | | ==Current Major and Notable Franchise Leagues== |
| {| class="wikitable"
| | *[[Canadian Football League]] |
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| | *[[Major League Baseball]] |
| | '''League''' || '''Sport''' || '''Franchises''' || '''First Season''' || '''Notes'''
| | *[[Major League Rugby]] |
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| | *[[Major League Soccer]] |
| | [[Canadian Football League]] || [[Canadian football]] || Nine || 1981 || [[Interprovincial Rugby Football Union]] and [[Western Interprovincial Football Union]] created umbrella [[Canadian Football Council]] within the [[Canadian Rugby Union]] in 1956 which evolved into the [[Canadian Football League]] after leaving the [[Canadian Rugby Union]] in 1958. The two leagues, by then named the [[Eastern Football Conference]] and [[Western Football Conference]] formally merged in 1981.
| | *[[National Basketball Association]] |
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| | *[[National Football League]] |
| | [[Major Arena Soccer League]] || [[Indoor association football]] || 13 || 2008-09 || Named [[Professional Arena Soccer League]] until 2014-15.
| | *[[National Hockey League]] |
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| | *[[National Lacrosse League]] |
| | [[Major League Baseball]] || [[Baseball]] || 30 || 2000 || [[American League]] and [[National League and American Association]] (returning to simply the [[National League]] in 1904) began cooperating under the National Agreement in 1903. The leagues each submitted to the authority of the new Office of the Commissioner of Baseball in 1920 and the overarching name of [[Major League Baseball]] entered into use for the 1969 season. The two leagues formally merged in 2000.
| | *[[National Women's Soccer League]] |
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| | *[[Professional Women's Hockey League]] |
| | [[Major League Cricket]] || [[Twenty20 cricket]] || Six || 2023 || Plays at only a couple venues; teams do not play in home markets.
| | *[[United Football League]] |
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| | *[[Women's National Basketball Association]] |
| | [[Major League Rugby]] || [[Rugby union]] || 12 || 2018 ||
| | ==Current Major and Notable Individual Leagues== |
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| | [[Major League Soccer]] || [[Association football]] || 30 || 1996 || 30th team beginning play in 2025.
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| | [[National Basketball Association]] || [[Basketball]] || 30 || 1949-50 || Formed by merger of the [[Basketball Association of America]] and [[National Basketball League (1937-1949)|National Basketball League]].
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| | [[National Football League]] || [[American football]] || 32 || 1920 || Named [[American Professional Football Conference]] initially but renamed [[American Professional Football Association]] prior to commencing play in 1920. Briefly renamed [[National-American Football League]] in 1950-51 but returned simply to [[National Football League]] prior to commencing play.
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| | [[National Hockey League]] || [[Ice hockey]] || 32 || 1917-18 || Superseded [[National Hockey Association of Canada]]. League did not play 2004-05 season.
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| | [[National Lacrosse League]] || [[Box lacrosse]] || 15 || 1998 || Absorbed its predecessor [[Major Indoor Lacrosse League]] prior to commencing play. League did not play 2020-21 season.
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| | [[National Thoroughbred League]] || [[Equestrian racing]] || Six || 2024 || Aiming for 10 franchises in inaugural season.
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| | [[National Women's Soccer League]] || Women's [[association football]] || 15 || 2013 || 15th team beginning play in 2026.
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| | [[PBR Camping World Team Series]] || [[Bull riding]] || 10 || 2022 || Touring model.
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| | [[Premier Lacrosse League]] || [[Field lacrosse]] || Eight || 2019 || Touring model.
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| | [[Pro Volleyball Federation]] || Women's [[indoor volleyball]] || 10 || 2024 ||
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| | [[Professional Women's Hockey League]] || Women's [[ice hockey]] || Six || 2024 || Absorbed its predecessor [[Premier Hockey Federation]] but does not recognize or claim its history.
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| | [[United Football League]] || [[American football]] || 8 || 2024 || [[United States Football League (2022-2023)|United States Football League]] and [[XFL (2020-2023)|XFL]] merged.
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| | [[Women's National Basketball Association]] || Women's [[basketball]] || 15 || 1997 || 13th team beginning play in 2025, 14th and 15th teams beginning play in 2026.
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| |}
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| ==Defunct Major and Notable Leagues== | |
| {| class="wikitable"
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| | '''League''' || '''Sport''' || '''First Season''' || '''Last Season''' || '''Notes'''
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| | [[National Association]] || [[Baseball]] || 1871 || 1875 || Superseded by [[National League]].
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| | [[National League]] || [[Baseball]] || 1876 || 1999 || Superseded [[National Association]]. Renamed [[National League and American Association]] in 1892. Returned to [[National League]] in 1904. Merged with [[American League]] as [[Major League Baseball]] in 2000.
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| | [[American Association (1882-1891)|American Association]] || [[Baseball]] || 1882 || 1891 || Merged into [[National League]] as [[National League and American Association]] in 1892.
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| | [[Union Association]] || [[Baseball]] || 1884 || 1884 || Merged into [[National League]] in 1885.
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| | [[Players' National League]] || [[Baseball]] || 1890 || 1890 || Merged into [[American Association]] in 1891.
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| | [[American League]] || [[Baseball]] || 1901 || 1999 || Merged with [[National League]] as [[Major League Baseball]] in 2000.
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| | [[National Football League (1902)|National Football League]] || [[American football]] || 1902 || 1902 ||
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| | [[Eastern Football Conference]] || [[Canadian football]] || 1907 || 1980 || Named [[Interprovincial Rugby Football Union]] until 1960. League did not play 1916-1918 seasons. League did not play 1941-1944 seasons. Merged with [[Western Football Conference]] as [[Canadian Football League]] in 1981.
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| | [[Canadian Hockey Association]] || [[Ice hockey]] || 1909-10 || 1909-10 || Merged into [[National Hockey Association of Canada]] mid-season 1909-10.
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| | [[National Hockey Association of Canada]] || [[Ice hockey]] || 1910 || 1916-17 || Absorbed [[Canadian Hockey Association]] mid-season 1910. Superseded by [[National Hockey League]].
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| | [[Pacific Coast Hockey Association]] || [[Ice hockey]] || 1912 || 1923-24 || Merged into [[Western Canada Hockey League]] in 1924-25.
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| | [[Federal League]] || [[Baseball]] || 1914 || 1915 || Merged into [[National League]] in 1916.
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| | [[Negro National League (1920-1931)|Negro National League]] || Negro [[baseball]] || 1920 || 1931 ||
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| | [[Western Hockey League (1925-1926)|Western Hockey League]] || [[Ice hockey]] || 1921-22 || 1925-26 || Named [[Western Canada Hockey League]] until 1925-26.
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| | [[Mutual Association of Eastern Colored Clubs]] || Negro [[baseball]] || 1923 || 1928 ||
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| | [[American Basketball League (1925-1931)|American Basketball League]] || [[Basketball]] || 1925-26 || 1930-31 ||
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| | [[American Football League (1926)|American Football League]] || [[American football]] || 1926 || 1926 ||
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| | [[American Negro League]] || [[Baseball]] || 1929 || 1929 ||
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| | [[American Hockey League (1930-1932)|American Hockey League]] || [[Ice hockey]] || 1930 || 1932 ||
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| | [[International Professional Lacrosse League]] || [[Box lacrosse]] || 1931 || 1932 ||
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| | [[American Box Lacrosse League]] || Outdoor [[box lacrosse]] || 1932 || 1932 ||
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| | [[East-West League]] || Negro [[baseball]] || 1932 || 1932 ||
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| | [[Negro Southern League]] || Negro [[baseball]] || 1932 || 1932 ||
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| | [[Negro National League (1933-1948)|Negro National League]] || Negro [[baseball]] || 1933 || 1948 ||
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| | [[American Basketball League (1933-1953)|American Basketball League]] || [[Basketball]] || 1933-34 || 1952-53 ||
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| | [[National Basketball League (1937-1949)|National Basketball League]] || [[Basketball]] || 1935-36 || 1948-49 || Named [[Midwest Basketball Conference]] until 1935-36. Merged with [[Basketball Association of America]] as [[National Basketball Association]] in 1949-50.
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| | [[American Football League (1936-1937)|American Football League]] || [[American football]] || 1936 || 1937 ||
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| | [[Western Football Conference]] || [[Canadian football]] || 1936 || 1980 || Named [[Western Interprovincial Football Union]] until 1961. League did not play 1942-1944 seasons. Merged with [[Eastern Football Conference]] as [[Canadian Football League]] in 1981.
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| | [[Negro American League]] || Negro [[baseball]] || 1937 || 1948 ||
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| | [[American Football League (1940-1941)|American Football League]] || [[American football]] || 1940 || 1941 ||
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| | [[Eastern Rugby Football Union]] || [[Canadian football]] || 1941 || 1941 ||
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| | [[American Girls Baseball League]] || Women's [[softball]]/[[baseball]] || 1943 || 1954 || Named [[All-American Girls Softball League]] until mid-season 1943. Named [[All-American Girls Baseball League]] until 1944. Named [[All-American Girls Professional Baseball League]] until 1946. Named [[All-American Girls Baseball League]] until 1951.
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| | [[All-America Football Conference]] || [[American football]] || 1946 || 1949 || Merged into [[National Football League]] as [[National-American Football League]] in 1950-51.
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| | [[Basketball Association of America]] || [[Basketball]] || 1946-47 || 1948-49 || Merged with [[National Basketball League (1937-1949)|National Basketball League]] as [[National Basketball Association]] in 1949-50.
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| | [[Professional Basketball League of America]] || [[Basketball]] || 1947-48 || 1947-48 ||
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| | [[National Professional Basketball League]] || [[Basketball]] || 1950-51 || 1950-51 ||
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| | [[American Football League (1960-1970)|American Football League]] || [[American football]] || 1960-61 || 1969-70 || Merged into [[National Football League]].
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| | [[American Basketball League (1961-1962)|American Basketball League]] || [[Basketball]] || 1961-62 || 1962-63 ||
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| | [[American Basketball Association]] || [[Basketball]] || 1967-68 || 1975-76 || Merged into [[National Basketball Association]] in 1976-77.
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| | [[National Professional Soccer League (1967)|National Professional Soccer League]] || [[Association football]] || 1967 || 1967 || Merged with [[United Soccer Association]] as [[North American Soccer League (1968-1984)|North American Soccer League]] in 1968.
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| | [[United Soccer Association]] || [[Association football]] || 1967 || 1967 || Merged with [[National Professional Soccer League (1967)|National Professional Soccer League]] as [[North American Soccer League (1968-1984)|North American Soccer League]] in 1968.
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| | [[National Lacrosse Association]] || [[Box lacrosse]] || 1968 || 1968 ||
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| | [[North American Soccer League (1968-1984)|North American Soccer League]] || [[Association football]]<br>[[Indoor association football]] || 1968 || 1984 || Formed by merger of [[National Professional Soccer League (1968)|National Professional Soccer League]] and [[United Soccer Association]]. Indoor season played formally 1979-80, did not play 1982-83, folded after 1983-84.
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| | [[World Hockey Association]] || [[Ice hockey]] || 1972-73 || 1978-79 || Merged into [[National Hockey League]] in 1979-80.
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| | [[National Lacrosse League (1974-1975)|National Lacrosse League]] || [[Box lacrosse]] || 1974 || 1975 ||
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| | [[World Football League]] || [[American football]] || 1974 || 1975 ||
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| | [[Major Soccer League]] || [[Indoor association football]] || 1978-79 || 1991-92 || Named [[Major Indoor Soccer League (1978-1990)|Major Indoor Soccer League]] until 1990-91.
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| | [[Women's Pro Basketball League]] || Women's [[basketball]] || 1978-79 || 1980-81 ||
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| | [[United States Football League (1983-1985)|United States Football League]] || [[American football]] || 1983 || 1985 ||
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| | [[National Professional Soccer League (1990-2001)|National Professional Soccer League]] || [[Indoor association football]] || 1984-85 || 2000-01 || Named [[American Indoor Soccer Association]] until 1990-91.
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| | [[Major Indoor Lacrosse League]] || [[Box lacrosse]] || 1987 || 1997 || Named [[Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League]] until 1989. Merged into successor [[National Lacrosse League]] in 1998.
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| | [[American Lacrosse League]] || [[Field lacrosse]] || 1988 || 1988 ||
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| | [[NFL Europa]] || [[American football]] || 1991 || 2007 || Named [[World League of American Football]] until 1992. League did not play 1993-1994 seasons. Named [[World League]] until 1998. Named [[NFL Europe League]] until 2007.
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| | [[Continental Indoor Soccer League]] || [[Indoor association football]] || 1993 || 1997 ||
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| | [[American Basketball League (1996-1998)|American Basketball League]] || Women's [[basketball]] || 1996-97 || 1998-99 ||
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| | [[World Indoor Soccer League]] || [[Indoor association football]] || 1998 || 2001 || Named [[Premier Soccer Alliance]] until 1999.
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| | [[Major League Lacrosse]] || [[Field lacrosse]] || 2001 || 2020 || Merged into [[Premier Lacrosse League]] in 2021.
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| | [[Women's United Soccer Association]] || Women's [[association football]] || 2001 || 2003 ||
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| | [[XFL (2001)|XFL]] || [[American football]] || 2001 || 2001 ||
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| | [[Major Indoor Soccer League (2001-2008)|Major Indoor Soccer League]] || [[Indoor association football]] || 2001-02 || 2007-08 ||
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| | [[Major Indoor Soccer League (2009-2014)|Major Indoor Soccer League]] || [[Indoor association football]] || 2008-09 || 2013-14 || Named [[National Indoor Soccer League]] until 2009-10.
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| | [[Xtreme Soccer League]] || [[Indoor association football]] || 2008-09 || 2008-09 ||
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| | [[United Football League (2009-2012)|United Football League]] || [[American football]] || 2009 || 2012 ||
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| | [[Women's Professional Soccer]] || Women's [[association football]] || 2009 || 2011 ||
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| | [[Premier Hockey Federation]] || Women's [[ice hockey]] || 2015-16 || 2022-23 || Named [[National Women's Hockey League]] until 2021-22. Merged into successor [[Professional Women's Hockey League]] in 2024 but without its teams or history recognized.
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| | [[Alliance of American Football]] || [[American football]] || 2019 || 2019 ||
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| | [[XFL (2020-2023)|XFL]] || [[American football]] || 2020 || 2023 || League did not play 2021-2022 seasons. Merged with [[United States Football League (2022-2023)|United States Football League]] as [[United Football League]] in 2024.
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| | [[United States Football League (2022-2023)|United States Football League]] || [[American football]] || 2022 || 2023 || Merged with [[XFL (2020-2023)|XFL]] as [[United Football League]] in 2024.
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| |}
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