The sport most closely associated with the hot dog in American culture is baseball.
The connection grew from the hot dog’s popularity as an inexpensive food sold at stadiums, ballparks, street stands, and concession carts. Baseball games provided a relaxed public setting where fans could eat while watching, helping turn the sausage-in-a-bun into a recognizable part of the American sporting experience.
The association is especially visible through famous ballpark versions. Dodger Dogs at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Fenway Franks at Boston’s Fenway Park are named examples, while regional styles such as the Chicago-style hot dog add local identity to the tradition.
Hot dogs are also linked with other American events, including fairs, parades, and patriotic gatherings, so baseball is not their only cultural setting. But among sports, it is the established canonical answer. Ice hockey, tennis, and basketball do not have an equally defining hot-dog tradition.