User:Latium/SportsSandbox
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The major professional sports leagues in Latium are the highest professional competitions of team sports Latium. The four leagues traditionally included in the definition are Liga Campiontia (ICC), Insignis Liga (NIL), and Liga Magna (LMH). Other prominent leagues or competitions commonly included in this definition are the Belisarian Gridiron League (BGL), Y, and Z.
Liga Campiontia, Insignis Liga, and Liga Magna are commonly referred to as the "Big Three." They are among the wealthiest professional competitions in their respective sports worldwide, and are among the top ten sports leagues by revenue in the world. Among the Big Three, only football, known in Latium as calcitro, had a history of formation in Latium, with hockey and lacrosse developing in Ghant and Norumbia respectively. Due to the prominence of athletics in popular culture, many of the leagues star plays develop into cultural icons.
Each of the Big Three, and the BGL average a minimum of 14,000 in attendance per match. As Liga Magna is the only major league played indoors, most arenas are fitted for a minimum of 15,000 fans, with the largest at approximately 20,000. Many Liga Campiontia and Insignis Liga share venues, and achieve some of the highest attendance of fans due to the size of their respective stadiums.
With the exception of the BGL, the major leagues in Latium range from 20 to 25 clubs. Also with exception to the BGL and LMH, these leagues field teams exclusively to Latium or its immediate territories. All leagues, aside from the BGL, utilize a form of promotion and relegation. While rare, relocation can occur; however, this can lead to the formation of a new club in a lower tier. When this occurs the relocated team is considered a new entity.
Professional Association football and lacrosse leagues have existed in Latium for over 100 years, in the form of Liga Campiontia, Insignis Liga respectively. Hockey Campiontia, the predecessor to Liga Magna, was first formed in 1933, and folded during the Social War. Liga Magna is considered the legal successor to Hockey Campiontia, and was played its first season in 1951.