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London crowned world capital of sports events

PA Media A baseball player in white uniform with red piping and a red hat at the plate, his arm extended back about to throw the ball. There is a large crowd in the background. PA Media
A baseball game featuring the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies was held at London Stadium

London has been named as the world's leading sports host as new data reveals major sporting events delivered a £230m boost to London's economy in 2024.

Along with the economic benefits, the report published by City Hall found almost 500,000 fans attended key sports events in the capital last year, with more than 200 million global viewers tuning in to watch.

The city was also crowned the world's leading sporting events host in the 2024 Global Cities Report, as well as the best cultural experience destination.

London-hosted events last year included the UEFA Champions League Final, the London E-Prix, and Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Football League (NFL) American football games.

PA Media A race car on a racetrack with tall buildings from London's Docklands and part of the Millennium Dome visible in the background. PA Media
Andretti's Norman Nato at the 2024 Hankook London E-Prix at the ExCel Circuit

In the Major Sports Events Impact for London 2024 report published by City Hall, the direct economic impact was calculated through organiser, spectator and attendee spend during the event.

Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan has said he supports for a bid for the Olympics and Paralympics to return to London in 2040 and "remains committed to making London WrestleMania's first international destination".

A poll carried out online by YouGov for the Greater London Authority has found that 62% of Londoners feel proud of living in London when major sporting events are hosted, with 72% of 18 to 24-year-olds feeling proud.

In 2024, London hosted over 50 major sports events.

PA Media A female athlete wearing black shorts and a black and white top taking part in the long jump is captured mid jump, with a large crowd of spectators in the background. PA Media
Brooke Buschkuehl competes in the Women's Long Jump Final during The London Athletics Meet

The report focused on six best-in-class major sports events from last year that have created significant value for the capital.

They were:

  • UEFA Champions League Final at Wembley Stadium between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund
  • MLB game at the London Stadium featuring the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies
  • Formula E London E-Prix at ExCel
  • London Athletics Meet at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
  • Two regular season NFL games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
  • Jacksonville Jaguars regular season NFL game at Wembley Stadium.

NFL has been hugely popular in London for decades and the report reveals it has generated an estimated spectator spend of over £600m since the first NFL London Games in 2007.

There was also a cumulative USA viewership of over 20 million for the NFL London Games and MLB London Series in 2024.

Reuters A scrum between two female rugby teams, one in white England jerseys and the other in New Zealand black. One England player is visible above the scrum, shouting to her team mates. Reuters
Women's rugby is on the agenda in London in 2025

This year London will host an unrivalled number of women's sport events with women's rugby league, tennis, cricket, football, netball, hockey, basketball, athletics and rugby union all taking place in the city.

Headlining women's sport in London this August and September is the Women's Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham Stadium, which will have a world-record attendance for a single full-sided women's rugby event.

In addition, women's tennis is returning to Queen's Club for first time in more than 50 years.

Sir Sadiq added: "London is the sporting capital of the world and I am proud that we have such a strong track record of staging the biggest and best international events in our great city."

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