The Athletic
A subscription sports journalism site covering teams and leagues in depth.
The Athletic at a glance
The Athletic is a sports website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #175 in the country. It was founded in 2016 by Alex Mather, Adam Hansmann and is headquartered in New York, NY, USA. Today The Athletic is owned by The New York Times Company. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 40 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through subscriptions. Its closest rivals include espn.com, bleacherreport.com, cbssports.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 37.6 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 38.8 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 40 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 42.4 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct45%
- Organic search30%
- Social16%
- Referral6%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men74%
- Women26%
- Age 18-2427%
- Age 25-3431%
- Age 35-4422%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 12 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| the athletic | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| live scores | Top 10 | High | — |
| match results | Top 10 | High | — |
| league table | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 83% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading sports apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- theathletic.com
- Sector
- Sports
- Owner
- The New York Times Company
- Owner type
- Subsidiary of public company
- Founders
- Alex Mather, Adam Hansmann
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- New York, NY, USA
- Employees
- 500+
- Ownership
- The New York Times Company controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
The Athletic operates a sports media platform focused on United States. A subscription sports journalism site covering teams and leagues in depth. Revenue comes mainly from subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Subscriptions
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #175 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading sports site in United States
- Global rank
- 1500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| espn.com | ≈ 24 million / month | #176 class competitor | — |
| bleacherreport.com | ≈ 18 million / month | #177 class competitor | — |
| cbssports.com | ≈ 12 million / month | #178 class competitor | — |
What is The Athletic?
The Athletic (theathletic.com) is a sports media platform serving users in United States. A subscription sports journalism site covering teams and leagues in depth. It ranks #175 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the sports category.
Who owns The Athletic?
The site is operated by The New York Times Company, founded by Alex Mather, Adam Hansmann. The company was established in 2016 and is headquartered in New York, NY, USA. It employs around 500+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place The Athletic at roughly 40 million visits per month, about 1.3 million per day. Around 83% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 4.8 pages per visit with an average session of 5 min.
How The Athletic makes money
Revenue comes primarily from subscriptions, alongside .
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include espn.com, bleacherreport.com, cbssports.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 2016
The Athletic is founded in New York, NY, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its sports offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #175 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Live scores and fast match reporting
- Deep coverage of national leagues
- Free access to most content
- Strong mobile and app experience
Cons
- Ad-heavy match pages
- Betting advertising throughout
- Rumour-driven transfer coverage
- Video rights limit highlights
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns The Athletic?
The Athletic is operated by The New York Times Company. Subsidiary of public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is The Athletic headquartered?
The Athletic is headquartered in New York, NY, USA.
When was The Athletic founded?
The Athletic was founded in 2016 by Alex Mather, Adam Hansmann.
How many employees does The Athletic have?
The Athletic employs approximately 500+ people.
What is The Athletic's revenue?
The Athletic's revenue: ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are The Athletic's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include espn.com, bleacherreport.com, cbssports.com.
How does The Athletic make money?
Mainly subscriptions.
Is The Athletic publicly traded?
The Athletic's ownership: Subsidiary of public company.
How many visitors does The Athletic get?
Third-party estimates place The Athletic at roughly 40 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 83% mobile traffic.
Is The Athletic safe?
The Athletic is an established sports site founded in 2016 and ranked #175 in United States; use the official domain theathletic.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementstheathletic.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos