Feel like catching a game? Here’s where to go.
The personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on the Best Sports Cities in 2024 to help fans get the most bang for their buck while enjoying games they love.
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.
The best largest cities were Los Angeles, Boston, Pittsburgh, New York, Dallas, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington and Cincinnati. Not surprisingly, all are mostly known for their professional sports teams.
Said Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst: “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. 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. Finally, L.A. ranks second among the best baseball cities and fourth best for football fans.”
The best midsize cities for sports were Green Bay, Buffalo, Glendale in Arizona, Tuscaloosa, Ann Arbor, Tallahassee, Durham, Baton Rouge and Fargo.
The top small cities are notable for having a major college in town to rally around. They are Clemson in South Carolina, West Point in New York and the home of the United States Military Academy, Fayetteville in Arkansas, State College in Pennsylvania, Stillwater in Oklahoma, Hanover in New Hampshire, Morgantown in West Virginia, Princeton in New Jersey, Grambling in Louisiana and Buies Creek, North Carolina.
“Sports teams can often become a part of the culture, branding, and identity of residents and cities. This is not always the case or necessarily going to happen with every sports franchise, but you can find examples where regional or state identity and a kind of pride in city culture are refracted through the sports team. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers are examples of teams forging an identity based on a rust belt, working-class mentality, where the fans are connected to the city and sports teams,” said Dr. Benjamin Burroughs, Associate Professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Sports tribal has also grown significantly.
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