Sports is a huge part of American culture. Whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, hockey, or soccer, there is a strong fan base and team pride. The North American sports industry is expected to reach an $83 billion value in 2023.
So which cities are the best sports cities? Personal finance website WalletHub recently compared 392 small to large cities across the five largest sports in the U.S. to determine 2022’s Best Sports Cities.
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What makes a city a great sports city?
“I believe what makes a good sports city is not only a fan base that will buy tickets but a city (or surrounding cities) that will help those sports teams when it comes to new stadiums or arenas,” says Michael A. DeLong, Professor, Keiser University Flagship.
“There is no one formula, but I would say the easiest way is if a team is considered the primary draw for people to attend,” says Andrew C. Billings, Chair of Broadcasting, The University of Alabama.
Best large sports cities in the U.S.
- Los Angeles, CA
- Boston, MA
- New York, NY
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Dallas, TX
- Miami, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Denver, CO
- Washington, DC
- Atlanta, GA
Best midsize sports cities in the U.S.
- Green Bay, WI
- Buffalo, NY
- Glendale, AZ
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Tuscaloosa, AL
- Orlando, FL
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Tallahassee, FL
- Durham, NC
- Baton Rouge, LA
Best small sports cities
- Clemson, SC
- West Point, NY
- Fayette, MS
- State College, PA
- Hanover, NH
- Princeton, NJ
- Morgantown, WV
- Buies Creek, NC
- Stanford, CA
- Stillwater, OK
Read the full report here.
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