There are often discussions about the most famous teams in the world, it's probably impossible to compare. Out of curiosity, I got the idea to check the traffic on Wikipedia for articles related to the most famous sport clubs and franchises. Indeed, Wikipedia is plurilingual which makes the thing more interesting as it reduces the language barriers. Of course, Wikipedia page views depend on who's making the news but it can still give a good hint about global audience in a limited timespan. Here's the list of Wikipedia articles about sport teams which generated the most page views from May 2012 to April 2013 in 10 languages: English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Arabic. The percentage gives the proportion of readership between languages. I find the result quite interesting. I've tested some other team sports such as Ice Hockey, Cricket, Aussie rule, Rugby or Handball. None of them make it in the top 75. Anyway I won't comment this list, that's your part of the job! May 2012 - April 2013 Wikipedia articles page views in 10 languages
Important notice: these figures don't mean anything about popularity or fanbase. On the other side, they do give a good idea about which teams made the most talked about them from April 2012 to May 2013.
For those who care, some US soccer clubs attendance statistics: MLS average attendance 2013: Seattle Sounders 39,066 Impact de Montréal 32,077 Los Angeles Galaxy 21,661 Portland Timbers 20,674 Vancouver Whitecaps 19,746 Sporting Kansas City 19,420 Toronto FC 19,119 Houston Dynamo 19,098 Real Salt Lake 18,176 Philadelphia Union 17,496 New York Red Bulls 17,166 FC Dallas 14,897 Colorado Rapids 14,174 DC United 13,761 Columbus Crew 12,840 New England Revolution 12,678 Chicago Fire 12,108 San Jose Earthquakes 10,409 Chivas USA 8,045 Highest NASL attendance since 2011: San Antonio Scorpions 13,151 Highest USL PRO attendance since 2011: Orlando City SC 11,220 Highest average attendance ever: New York Cosmos 47,856 The Tampa Bay Rowdies also did great with an average attendance of 28,345 in the past. I think New York City FC will get an average attendance of 25,000 with big stars like Ibrahimovic and a stadium in the right place.
Great work, Metropolitan! Anyway, stats for this month should say much more, because in NFL is not played in May/April. Or october should be best, because NBA, NFL and MLB all go (if I'm correct). Some of those american sports were in disadvantage in May/April.
So November is fairest month for these statistics? I'm not sure with MLB, but it is time of World Series, isn't it?
Just meant that Real Salt Lake or Dynamo Houston seem strange as they use classic "prefix" used in other countries. Juventus anda Atalanta are not strange, in Italy what is strage is Real Vicenza (LP2), it would be strange if there was a Dynamo Roma as Dynamo if i remember correctly was the prefix for the Ministry of internal affair in most of the warsaw pact countries as CSKA was for Ministry of war/Defence/Army... Just that.
I was just joking - every country has its share of oddly named teams (Sheffield Wednesday, the Strongest, etc.).
Of course. Just to say I like simple names, referring to the cities. Toronto FC is good as FC Dallas. And I Think that also the names in an "american way" are good: Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers etc. In fact they reflect the traditions of Usa professional sports. The strange ones are those who refers to european traditions. I mean it would be strange to see a Associazione Calcio New York... as it is to have a Real in Salt Lake. Anyway, the numbers are very, very good.