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Why Is The National Anthem Played At Sporting Events?

Weird History | November 27, 2025



The opening words to the national anthem are familiar to anyone who watches or attends a sporting event in the United States. But why is the national anthem played at games to begin with? Depending on one’s point of view, you can blame – or thank – World War I for being the catalyst for this tradition.

“The Star-Spangled Banner” began its life as a poem by Francis Scott Key about seeing the flag flying over Fort McHenry after it was bombarded by British troops in 1814. Long before it became the official US national anthem in 1931, the song was recognized for its ability to boost patriotism.

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Written by Weird History

Comments

This post currently has 40 comments.

  1. @turtletube420

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    It played in sports in every country and regardless what color you are white or black you should stand and respect it no matter what Colin Kaepernick was protesting to stay in the spotlight because he didn't do it before he had 2 straight bad years going on to a 3rd and himself and his girlfriend are the reason why he's not on a team with the platform he had and still has there's a less controversial way to protest and get your message and point across it's time to stop letting people white or black from separating us because when we stop hating each other and blaming each other and start working together we can accomplish anything

  3. @zachhoward9099

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    Ehler, Wrigley and Kauffman weren’t wrong. Playing the anthem before every single game does nothing but cheapen it. The people that demand it are mindless creatures of conformity

  7. @bondinvisible

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    We really don’t need to do this anymore because it’s a sporting event because it’s not a military ceremony or anything, if we are going to do this we might as well sing the anthem at the start of a concert or another entertainment event. It’s time Canada follow suit

  8. @CVZemo

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    I’ve always found it interesting that even though The Star Spangled Banner was being used in sporting events and other “official events”, it wasn’t until Robert Ripley (as in Ripley’s Believe It or Not) wrote in a newspaper cartoon 1929 that America had no official anthem. Ripley got a lot of backlash for that, but told people they should direct their ire toward their Congressmen. Over 5 Million letters made their way to Washington about America not having a National Anthem, and in 1931 Pres. Hoover signed a law making a The Star Spangled Banner the official anthem.

  14. @cmucodemonkey

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    I think the national anthem should be reserved for sporting events where national teams are competing (i.e. the Olympics, FIFA world cup, etc.) and the national anthem of both participating nations should be played. Or go the Olympic route and play the national anthem of the winner. Either way, forcing it down our throats at an MLB game on a Tuesday night when it's probably free hot dog night or some such promotion to get fans into the stadium doesn't really increase patriotism.

  15. @phyllismenzi6473

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    There is always something very interesting on the Weird History channel! Thank you!
    But one correction- there are now 32 NHL as of 2021 when the Seattle Kraken joined the other 31 teams.

  16. @jrmckim

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    I wish your channel would do a video on culture-bound syndromes aka folk illnesses.
    Like Fan death, Amok syndrome, Dhat syndrome, Hwabyeong, and Koro.

  19. @Dangic23

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    I’m an American and I do not stand when they play the anthem. Never have, when I wasn’t in uniform.
    I’m 47, retired military, and war veteran.

    It is super weird to see non military people judge me.

  23. @Sjrick

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    Two things need to end. The pledge of allegiance in school and now the two anthems at every ballgame. The first inning and the 7th. Enough already.

  24. @paulcalixte2223

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    There's one exception that comes to mind, but I need some clarification:

    Anyone here attended a Concacaf Champions League (now Cup) game in the US? If so, do they play the anthem before the player entrance? Because, given that it's a continental club event, they do NOT play anthems during or after the initial player lineup

  32. @paulcalixte2223

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    Really, it should only be played in championship games and national team games. Having it in EVERY league game is tedious… but arguing to remove it is a political cyanide pill

  34. @christymcdaniel3906

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    In my opinion if an artist wants the song to suit their actual style, I find it more interesting, for example, When Carter's chord sang the anthem in harmony, their voices were beautiful and it made me want to buy their cd, and there's another version by Extreme's Nuno Bettencourt and Gary Cherone that was also interesting, it was like More Than Words all over again, with Gary singing lead and Nuno playing the guitar and singing harmony with him,
    To anyone who loves the song More Than Words should check that out. Those are in my opinion, great examples!

  35. @jakeeasom

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    Really interesting video. As a Brit, I do find it mental that the US Anthem is played before every game between US teams involving majority US players. It does show a contrast on how sports at a domestic level at least are seen either side of the pond.

    Classic Scotland booing God Save the Queen at any given opportunity, never change Scotland 😂

  39. @lindacoolbaugh962

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    I saw Whitney Houston in the thumbnail and I thought you would of showed her sing a line. My mom had died the November berfore Super Bowl XXV, so my family had a miserable holiday. The Giants making and then winning the Super Bowl was awesome, but damn Whitney's version is still up there as one of the best!

  40. @tedphillips2501

    November 27, 2025 at 3:28 am

    Only the first verse is sung.
    The rest of it is far more revealing.

    The Star-Spangled Banner
    O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
    What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
    Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
    O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
    And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
    Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
    O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
    O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

    On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
    Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
    What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
    As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
    Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
    In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
    ’Tis the star-spangled banner – O long may it wave
    O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

    And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
    That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
    A home and a Country should leave us no more?
    Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
    No refuge could save the hireling and slave
    From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
    And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
    O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

    O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
    Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
    Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
    Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
    Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
    And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”
    And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
    O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

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