Americans spend a lot of money on sports every year. Sports franchises in the U.S. bring in nearly $40 billion in yearly revenue, with money coming from ticket and merchandise sales, media rights, and sponsorship fees. Even with technology making major televised games accessible from anywhere, many serious fans still prefer live action — and the best seats in the house.
In search of the best sports cities from the fans’ perspective, WalletHub compared 400 cities across more than 50 key metrics related to the five largest sports in the U.S.: football, baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey.

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
Best Sports Cities
Notes: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
If a particular sport was not represented at the NCAA and/or professional level, the rank 450 was attributed by default.

- 1. Pittsburgh, PA
- 2. Dallas, TX
- 3. Green Bay, WI
- 4. Los Angeles, CA
- 5. Boston, MA

- 6. New York, NY
- 7. Miami, FL
- 8. New Orleans, LA
- 9. San Francisco, CA
- 10. Kansas City, MO

- 1. New York, NY
- 2. Los Angeles, CA
- 3. St. Louis, MO
- 4. Atlanta, GA
- 5. Boston, MA

- 6. Chicago, IL
- 7. Cincinnati, OH
- 8. San Francisco, CA
- 9. Baltimore, MD
- 10. Minneapolis, MN

- 1. Los Angeles, CA
- 2. Boston, MA
- 3. San Francisco, CA
- 4. Salt Lake City, UT
- 5. Miami, FL

- 6. Philadelphia, PA
- 7. Washington, DC
- 8. Milwaukee, WI
- 9. New York, NY
- 10. San Antonio, TX

- 1. Los Angeles, CA
- 2. Seattle, WA
- 3. Portland, OR
- 4. Salt Lake City, UT
- 5. Orlando, FL

- 6. Washington, DC
- 7. Kansas City, MO
- 8. New York, NY
- 9. Atlanta, GA
- 10. St. Louis, MO

- 1. Boston, MA
- 2. Pittsburgh, PA
- 3. Detroit, MI
- 4. Denver, CO
- 5. St. Louis, MO

- 6. New York, NY
- 7. Newark, NJ
- 8. Tampa, FL
- 9. Raleigh, NC
- 10. Sunrise, FL
In-Depth Look at the Best Sports Cities
Los Angeles, CA - Best Large City & Best Overall
Los Angeles tops the list of the best sports cities this year because of its strong appreciation for all types of sports, numerous professional teams, and proximity to iconic stadiums and arenas. Some venues of note include Dodger Stadium, SoFi Stadium, Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Bowl. Los Angeles hosts professional teams across various sports, including two each in the NBA, MLB, MLS, and NFL.
The City of Angels ranks as the best city for basketball fans, in large part due to the monumental success of the Lakers and the abundance and affordability of Division 1 college basketball. It’s also number one for soccer fans, as the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC have brought the city more MLS Cup titles than any other.
L.A. also ranks second among the best baseball cities, considering how many times the Dodgers have carried the city to victory. Los Angeles is the most successful city in the country when it comes to its collective NCAA baseball teams, too. Finally, the city also ranks as the fourth best for football fans, boosted by solid performance and affordable ticket prices.
Green Bay, WI - Best Midsize City
Green Bay, WI, is the best midsize city for sports fans, with its deep-rooted sports culture, highlighted by the Green Bay Packers. The city is known for its enthusiastic fans and a passion for local football, ranking as the third-best football city in the country overall.
The Green Bay Packers are one of the most storied and successful franchises in the league's history, with the eighth-highest win percentage, 19 division championships and four Super Bowl titles. Nevertheless, attending a Packers game at the iconic Lambeau Field can be less expensive than games in some larger cities since the team’s nonprofit ownership structure helps keep ticket prices reasonable. Plus, the Packers enjoy a high level of popularity and some of the most engaged fans on social media.
The downside to Green Bay is that its sports culture is almost entirely focused on football. It ranks 157th among the 300 cities in our study for soccer fans, mainly because its college soccer games are very affordable. Green Bay doesn’t rank in the top half of the country for any other sports, though.
Clemson, SC - Best Small City
Clemson, SC, is the best small city for sports fans, particularly for college sports enthusiasts. Clemson University has very strong athletic programs, including its highly successful football team. The Clemson Tigers have won 15 ACC conference championships since 1978, along with three national titles, and they have a large stadium capacity and extremely engaged fans. As a result, Clemson ranks 31st overall among the best football cities, despite not having an NFL team.
Clemson also ranks as the 43rd-best city for soccer fans among the 300 cities in our study. It has no professional soccer teams, but the Clemson Tigers have one of the best performance rates among men’s college soccer teams and the fourth-most championship wins. Tickets to see both the men’s and women’s soccer games can be free in some cases, too!
Finally, Clemson is the 51st-best city for basketball fans and 55th-best for baseball fans, again due to the success, affordability, stadium capacity and fan engagement of its college-level teams.
Ranking by City Size
Rank (1=Best) |
Large Cities (Score) |
Rank (1=Best) |
Midsize Cities (Score) |
Rank (1=Best) |
Small Cities (Score) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Los Angeles, CA (52.16) | 1 | Green Bay, WI (32.89) | 1 | Clemson, SC (22.90) |
2 | Boston, MA (50.84) | 2 | Buffalo, NY (31.65) | 2 | West Point, NY (20.64) |
3 | Pittsburgh, PA (49.46) | 3 | Glendale, AZ (25.56) | 3 | Fayette, MS (19.67) |
4 | New York, NY (46.88) | 4 | Tuscaloosa, AL (22.18) | 4 | State College, PA (19.62) |
5 | Dallas, TX (43.20) | 5 | Salt Lake City, UT (19.68) | 5 | Stillwater, OK (18.80) |
6 | Miami, FL (40.47) | 6 | Ann Arbor, MI (19.13) | 6 | Hanover, NH (17.80) |
7 | Philadelphia, PA (40.45) | 7 | Tallahassee, FL (17.94) | 7 | Morgantown, WV (17.76) |
8 | San Francisco, CA (39.16) | 8 | Durham, NC (17.66) | 8 | Princeton, NJ (17.64) |
9 | Washington, DC (37.27) | 9 | Baton Rouge, LA (17.56) | 9 | Grambling, LA (17.31) |
10 | Cincinnati, OH (37.10) | 10 | Fargo, ND (17.19) | 10 | Buies Creek, NC (17.24) |
11 | Seattle, WA (35.98) | 11 | Athens, GA (16.96) | 11 | Kingston, RI (17.15) |
12 | Denver, CO (35.94) | 12 | Norman, OK (16.83) | 12 | Oxford, MS (17.02) |
13 | Atlanta, GA (35.94) | 13 | South Bend, IN (16.33) | 13 | Starkville, MS (16.81) |
14 | Kansas City, MO (35.17) | 14 | New Haven, CT (16.29) | 14 | Boone, NC (16.64) |
15 | Chicago, IL (34.26) | 15 | Birmingham, AL (15.89) | 15 | Brookings, SD (16.59) |
16 | Minneapolis, MN (34.14) | 16 | Cambridge, MA (15.84) | 16 | Stanford, CA (16.38) |
17 | New Orleans, LA (33.95) | 17 | Provo, UT (15.49) | 17 | Hamilton, NY (16.38) |
18 | Indianapolis, IN (33.37) | 18 | Dayton, OH (15.36) | 18 | Jacksonville, AL (15.97) |
19 | Detroit, MI (32.81) | 19 | Richmond, VA (15.00) | 19 | Boiling Springs, NC (15.92) |
20 | Baltimore, MD (31.70) | 20 | Worcester, MA (14.98) | 20 | East Lansing, MI (15.89) |
21 | Houston, TX (31.00) | 21 | St. Louis, MO (14.55) | 21 | Lewisburg, PA (15.87) |
22 | Nashville, TN (30.54) | 22 | Toledo, OH (14.47) | 22 | Statesboro, GA (15.79) |
23 | Cleveland, OH (30.53) | 23 | Jackson, MS (14.47) | 23 | Cullowhee, NC (15.77) |
24 | Las Vegas, NV (29.18) | 24 | Providence, RI (14.37) | 24 | College Park, MD (15.66) |
25 | Tampa, FL (28.79) | 25 | Norfolk, VA (13.75) | 25 | Conway, SC (15.52) |
26 | Charlotte, NC (26.64) | 26 | Winston-Salem, NC (13.73) | 26 | Itta Bena, MS (15.50) |
27 | Jacksonville, FL (20.74) | 27 | Syracuse, NY (13.42) | 27 | Harrisonburg, VA (15.40) |
28 | San Diego, CA (20.24) | 28 | Eugene, OR (13.36) | 28 | Troy, AL (15.31) |
29 | Columbus, OH (19.08) | 29 | Murfreesboro, TN (13.18) | 29 | Greenville, SC (15.26) |
30 | San Antonio, TX (18.95) | 30 | Macon, GA (13.04) | 30 | Huntington, WV (15.23) |
31 | St. Paul, MN (18.57) | 31 | Springfield, MO (12.94) | 31 | Richmond, KY (15.14) |
32 | Portland, OR (17.75) | 32 | Charleston, SC (12.88) | 32 | Martin, TN (15.11) |
33 | Orlando, FL (16.82) | 33 | Lafayette, LA (12.86) | 33 | Ypsilanti, MI (14.97) |
34 | Sacramento, CA (16.23) | 34 | Des Moines, IA (12.81) | 34 | Williamsburg, VA (14.92) |
35 | Memphis, TN (16.14) | 35 | Tempe, AZ (12.78) | 35 | Morehead, KY (14.92) |
36 | San Jose, CA (16.14) | 36 | Mobile, AL (12.74) | 36 | Chapel Hill, NC (14.91) |
37 | Colorado Springs, CO (14.90) | 37 | Chattanooga, TN (12.71) | 37 | Iowa City, IA (14.82) |
38 | Tulsa, OK (14.77) | 38 | Boise, ID (12.63) | 38 | Bowling Green, OH (14.66) |
39 | Lexington, KY (14.44) | 39 | Akron, OH (12.45) | 39 | Lynchburg, VA (14.65) |
40 | Fresno, CA (14.17) | 40 | Abilene, TX (12.40) | 40 | Newark, DE (14.57) |
41 | Raleigh, NC (14.08) | 41 | Greensboro, NC (12.35) | 41 | Carbondale, IL (14.45) |
42 | Austin, TX (13.93) | 42 | Knoxville, TN (12.22) | 42 | Loretto, PA (14.41) |
43 | Louisville, KY (13.79) | 43 | Reno, NV (12.13) | 43 | Manhattan, KS (14.38) |
44 | Albuquerque, NM (13.51) | 44 | Berkeley, CA (12.01) | 44 | Athens, OH (14.36) |
45 | El Paso, TX (12.06) | 45 | Columbia, SC (11.92) | 45 | Mount Pleasant, MI (14.34) |
46 | Tucson, AZ (11.81) | 46 | Lubbock, TX (11.80) | 46 | Orono, ME (14.28) |
47 | Fort Worth, TX (11.79) | 47 | Lincoln, NE (11.75) | 47 | Huntsville, TX (14.20) |
48 | Milwaukee, WI (10.92) | 48 | Columbia, MO (11.74) | 48 | Oxford, OH (14.17) |
49 | Honolulu, HI (10.23) | 49 | Clarksville, TN (11.64) | 49 | Charlottesville, VA (14.15) |
50 | Phoenix, AZ (9.60) | 50 | Montgomery, AL (11.62) | 50 | Fairfield, CT (14.12) |
51 | Arlington, TX (6.88) | 51 | Gainesville, FL (11.61) | 51 | Elon, NC (14.08) |
52 | Newark, NJ (6.04) | 52 | Las Cruces, NM (11.05) | 52 | North Andover, MA (14.01) |
53 | Oklahoma City, OK (5.92) | 53 | Huntsville, AL (10.83) | 53 | Fayetteville, AR (14.01) |
54 | Oakland, CA (5.52) | 54 | College Station, TX (10.80) | 54 | West Lafayette, IN (13.93) |
55 | Irvine, CA (4.74) | 55 | Denton, TX (10.69) | 55 | Corvallis, OR (13.89) |
56 | Omaha, NE (4.62) | 56 | Beaumont, TX (10.42) | 56 | Murray, KY (13.75) |
57 | Riverside, CA (4.22) | 57 | Greeley, CO (10.40) | 57 | Bowling Green, KY (13.74) |
58 | Corpus Christi, TX (4.12) | 58 | Waco, TX (10.37) | 58 | Durham, NH (13.73) |
59 | Stockton, CA (3.84) | 59 | Hampton, VA (10.32) | 59 | Hammond, LA (13.73) |
60 | Long Beach, CA (3.79) | 60 | Madison, WI (10.04) | 60 | Prairie View, TX (13.63) |
61 | Wichita, KS (3.39) | 61 | Boulder, CO (9.34) | 61 | Ruston, LA (13.62) |
62 | Bakersfield, CA (3.33) | 62 | North Charleston, SC (8.73) | 62 | Ithaca, NY (13.61) |
63 | Anaheim, CA (2.17) | 63 | Fort Collins, CO (8.63) | 63 | Annapolis, MD (13.61) |
Info | Info | 64 | St. Petersburg, FL (6.23) | 64 | Kennesaw, GA (13.55) |
Info | Info | 65 | Spokane, WA (5.32) | 65 | Cape Girardeau, MO (13.51) |
Info | Info | 66 | Lowell, MA (5.05) | 66 | Thibodaux, LA (13.50) |
Info | Info | 67 | Fort Wayne, IN (4.91) | 67 | Kent, OH (13.43) |
Info | Info | 68 | Peoria, IL (4.76) | 68 | Davis, CA (13.36) |
Info | Info | 69 | Fullerton, CA (4.46) | 69 | Nacogdoches, TX (13.29) |
Info | Info | 70 | Santa Clara, CA (3.94) | 70 | Muncie, IN (13.27) |
Info | Info | 71 | Wilmington, NC (3.83) | 71 | Stony Brook, NY (13.23) |
Info | Info | 72 | Evansville, IN (3.71) | 72 | Youngstown, OH (13.21) |
Info | Info | 73 | Edinburg, TX (3.61) | 73 | Cedar Falls, IA (13.20) |
Info | Info | 74 | Little Rock, AR (3.59) | 74 | DeKalb, IL (13.19) |
Info | Info | 75 | Rochester, NY (2.88) | 75 | Charleston, IL (13.05) |
Info | Info | 76 | High Point, NC (2.83) | 76 | Kalamazoo, MI (12.96) |
Info | Info | 77 | Hartford, CT (2.52) | 77 | Stephenville, TX (12.94) |
Info | Info | 78 | Jersey City, NJ (2.41) | 78 | Champaign, IL (12.94) |
Info | Info | 79 | Cary, NC (2.30) | 79 | St. Charles, MO (12.93) |
Info | Info | 80 | Kansas City, KS (1.88) | 80 | Amherst, MA (12.88) |
Info | Info | 81 | Cedar Rapids, IA (1.57) | 81 | Normal, IL (12.81) |
Info | Info | 82 | Sugar Land, TX (1.56) | 82 | Missoula, MT (12.80) |
Info | Info | 83 | Allentown, PA (1.55) | 83 | Albany, NY (12.67) |
Info | Info | 84 | Amarillo, TX (1.54) | 84 | Lawrence, KS (12.62) |
Info | Info | 85 | Davenport, IA (1.53) | 85 | Pullman, WA (12.60) |
Info | Info | 86 | Modesto, CA (1.48) | 86 | Poughkeepsie, NY (12.56) |
Info | Info | 87 | Lakeland, FL (1.47) | 87 | Cheney, WA (12.55) |
Info | Info | 88 | Clearwater, FL (1.47) | 88 | Spartanburg, SC (12.54) |
Info | Info | 89 | Port St. Lucie, FL (1.46) | 89 | Laramie, WY (12.41) |
Info | Info | 89 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA (1.46) | 90 | Lexington, VA (12.37) |
Info | Info | 91 | Tacoma, WA (1.41) | 91 | Conway, AR (12.35) |
Info | Info | 92 | Manchester, NH (1.40) | 92 | Jonesboro, AR (12.31) |
Info | Info | 93 | Grand Rapids, MI (1.38) | 93 | Greenville, NC (12.30) |
Info | Info | 94 | Midland, TX (1.35) | 94 | Blacksburg, VA (12.29) |
Info | Info | 95 | Augusta, GA (1.34) | 95 | Bethlehem, PA (12.28) |
Info | Info | 96 | Round Rock, TX (1.29) | 96 | Monroe, LA (12.22) |
Info | Info | 97 | Lansing, MI (1.29) | 97 | Easton, PA (12.13) |
Info | Info | 98 | San Bernardino, CA (1.27) | 98 | Natchitoches, LA (12.06) |
Info | Info | 99 | Everett, WA (1.27) | 99 | Ogden, UT (12.00) |
Info | Info | 100 | Fayetteville, NC (1.24) | 100 | Hattiesburg, MS (11.97) |
Info | Info | 101 | Visalia, CA (1.20) | 101 | Orangeburg, SC (11.96) |
Info | Info | 102 | Hillsboro, OR (1.19) | 102 | Terre Haute, IN (11.95) |
Info | Info | 103 | Frisco, TX (1.15) | 102 | Bozeman, MT (11.95) |
Info | Info | 104 | Bridgeport, CT (0.77) | 104 | San Marcos, TX (11.82) |
Info | Info | 105 | Springfield, MA (0.75) | 105 | Grand Forks, ND (11.77) |
Info | Info | 106 | Anchorage, AK (0.67) | 106 | Johnson City, TN (11.61) |
Info | Info | 107 | Sioux Falls, SD (0.56) | 107 | Bloomington, IN (11.57) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 108 | San Luis Obispo, CA (11.53) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 109 | Evanston, IL (11.47) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 110 | Boca Raton, FL (11.41) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 111 | Cookeville, TN (11.36) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 112 | West Long Branch, NJ (11.27) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 113 | New Britain, CT (11.21) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 114 | Moscow, ID (11.20) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 115 | Auburn, AL (11.05) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 116 | Vermillion, SD (10.95) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 117 | Towson, MD (10.83) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 118 | Davidson, NC (10.73) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 119 | Clinton, SC (10.72) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 120 | Lake Charles, LA (10.63) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 121 | Ames, IA (10.54) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 122 | DeLand, FL (10.43) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 123 | Daytona Beach, FL (10.42) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 124 | Flagstaff, AZ (10.34) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 125 | Cedar City, UT (10.31) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 126 | Logan, UT (10.30) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 127 | St. George, UT (10.27) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 128 | Florence, AL (10.15) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 129 | Macomb, IL (9.96) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 130 | University Park, TX (9.59) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 131 | Dover, DE (9.35) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 132 | Pine Bluff, AR (9.30) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 133 | Smithfield, RI (9.15) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 134 | Commerce, TX (8.98) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 135 | Valparaiso, IN (8.47) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 136 | East Hartford, CT (8.34) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 137 | Storrs, CT (7.77) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 138 | Pocatello, ID (7.75) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 139 | Easton, MA (7.59) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 140 | Lewiston, NY (7.07) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 141 | Piscataway, NJ (6.61) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 142 | Emmitsburg, MD (5.75) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 143 | Binghamton, NY (5.06) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 144 | Fort Myers, FL (4.93) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 145 | Asheville, NC (4.66) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 146 | Hempstead, NY (4.54) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 147 | Moraga, CA (4.51) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 148 | Santa Barbara, CA (4.49) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 149 | New Brunswick, NJ (4.45) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 150 | Rock Hill, SC (4.42) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 151 | Princess Anne, MD (4.42) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 152 | Highland Heights, KY (4.33) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 153 | Farmville, VA (4.32) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 154 | Malibu, CA (4.25) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 155 | Orem, UT (4.15) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 156 | Edwardsville, IL (4.04) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 157 | New Rochelle, NY (3.92) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 158 | Radford, VA (3.69) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 159 | Rochester Hills, MI (3.49) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 160 | Long Branch, NJ (3.19) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 161 | Trenton, NJ (3.17) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 162 | Fairfax, VA (3.07) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 163 | Hackensack, NJ (2.87) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 164 | Burlington, VT (2.84) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 165 | Sunrise, FL (2.65) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 166 | Coral Gables, FL (2.52) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 167 | Olean, NY (2.36) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 168 | Allegany, NY (2.30) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 169 | Erie, PA (2.20) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 170 | Papillion, NE (2.04) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 171 | Fishkill, NY (1.97) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 172 | Zebulon, NC (1.96) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 173 | Salem, VA (1.90) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 174 | Bridgewater, NJ (1.87) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 175 | Palm Beach, FL (1.84) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 176 | Appleton, WI (1.74) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 177 | Myrtle Beach, SC (1.73) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 178 | Eastlake, OH (1.70) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 179 | North Little Rock, AR (1.69) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 180 | Portland, ME (1.65) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 181 | Aberdeen, MD (1.65) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 182 | Fredericksburg, VA (1.64) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 183 | Pensacola, FL (1.60) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 184 | Pearl, MS (1.58) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 185 | Harrisburg, PA (1.58) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 186 | West Sacramento, CA (1.55) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 187 | Altoona, PA (1.54) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 188 | Bradenton, FL (1.50) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 189 | Kinston, NC (1.50) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 190 | Salisbury, MD (1.48) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 191 | Reading, PA (1.47) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 192 | Rome, GA (1.46) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 193 | Lakewood, NJ (1.43) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 194 | Biloxi, MS (1.43) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 195 | Scranton, PA (1.41) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 196 | Dunedin, FL (1.40) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 197 | Lake Elsinore, CA (1.39) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 198 | Hickory, NC (1.38) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 199 | Bowie, MD (1.38) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 200 | Midland, MI (1.37) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 201 | Springdale, AR (1.37) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 202 | Wilmington, DE (1.36) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 203 | Pasco, WA (1.34) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 204 | Madison, AL (1.33) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 205 | Kannapolis, NC (1.30) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 206 | Jupiter, FL (1.27) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 207 | Beloit, WI (1.21) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 208 | De Witt, NY (1.20) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 209 | Houghton, MI (1.15) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 210 | Potsdam, NY (1.06) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 211 | Big Rapids, MI (1.06) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 212 | Sault Ste. Marie, MI (1.00) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 213 | Bemidji, MN (0.92) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 214 | Seaside, CA (0.83) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 215 | Canton, NY (0.79) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 216 | Leesburg, VA (0.77) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 217 | Marquette, MI (0.75) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 218 | Schenectady, NY (0.74) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 219 | Duluth, MN (0.73) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 220 | St. Cloud, MN (0.71) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 221 | Waltham, MA (0.68) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 222 | Troy, NY (0.66) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 223 | Fairbanks, AK (0.63) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 224 | Pawtucket, RI (0.61) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 225 | Mankato, MN (0.59) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 226 | Hamden, CT (0.56) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 227 | Lawrence, NJ (0.51) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 228 | South Orange Village, NJ (0.50) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 229 | DeWitt, NY (0.43) |
Info | Info | Info | Info | 230 | Rochester, MI (0.35) |
Ask the Experts
The sports industry continues to thrive in the U.S. as technology and accessibility play a key role in its growing popularity. We asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their insight on sports culture and advice on how cities can best accommodate fans. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:
- What makes a good sports city?
- To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home?
- To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of “place” in fandom?
- What are some ways to inspire people to be involved in sports?
- Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities?
- What tips do you have for enjoying sports events without breaking a bank?
Ask the Experts
Clinical Associate Professor of Law in the Center on Negotiation, Mediation, and Restorative Justice at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law – Northwestern University
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Ph.D. – Professor of Sport Management; Leadership, School Counseling, & Sport Management, College of Education & Human Services – University of North Florida
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Associate Professor of Emerging Media and Graduate Coordinator, Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies – University of Nevada, Las Vegas
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Ed.D. – Professor of Sport Business, College of Business and Global Affairs – University of Tennessee at Martin
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Professor, Intercollegiate & Professional Sport Management; Co-Director, Sports Innovation Institute – University of Nevada, Las Vegas
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Associate Professor of Sport Management – Kennesaw State University
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Methodology
In order to determine the best sports cities, WalletHub combined the results from its previous rankings listed below. Each sports category was assigned a weight corresponding with the total percentage of adults in the U.S. who claim to follow that particular sport, according to Gallup.
- Football Ranking (Overall) - Total Weight: 60 Percent
- Baseball Ranking (Overall) - Total Weight: 14 Percent
- Basketball Ranking (Overall) - Total Weight: 13 Percent
- Soccer Ranking (Overall) - Total Weight: 7 Percent
- Hockey Ranking (Overall) - Total Weight: 6 Percent
Each sports category was also graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for sports fans. Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all sports categories to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
Our sample includes a total of 400 U.S. cities, categorized according to the following population-size guidelines:
- Large cities: More than 300,000 people
- Midsize cities: 100,000 to 300,000 people
- Small cities: Fewer than 100,000 people
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of October 16, 2024 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Team Marketing Report, ESPN, NCAA, MLS, The Athletic, NBC Sports, Fanalytics, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Sports Reference, Forbes, Sports Business Journal, MLB Advanced Media, Minor League Baseball, YouGov, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, The National Collegiate Athletic Association, Facebook, Twitter, NBA.com, NHL.com, U.S. College Hockey Online, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Soccer Stadium Digest, FlashScore, Google Trends, National Soccer Hall of Fame, each team's website and WalletHub analysis.
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