America’s Best Sports Cities in 2021

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  Written by Michelle Delgado

As the first wave of the pandemic swept through the United States, so did a wave of cancellations across sports. 

On March 11 and 12, 2020, professional sports leagues announced cancellations and postponements, starting with the NBA and continuing with updates from hockey, baseball, and myriad other leagues. For the first time in modern history, even the Olympics and Paralympics were postponed.

According to the United Nations, the global sports industry is valued at $756 billion annually. The pandemic cancellations impacted not only the livelihoods of athletes and workers in related industries but communities and fans at large. 

Though most sports found ways to return by July 2020, albeit without fans, experts predict that some pandemic-induced changes may be here to stay. In particular, they predict more virtual options, shorter seasons, inventive camera work, and more experimentation with rule changes that liven up baseball and other sports. 

Still, nothing beats the thrill of watching your favorite team, which made us wonder — what’s the best place to live if you’re a sports fan in 2021? 

We ranked the 42 metro areas in the U.S. that had at least one team in any of the four major professional sports leagues (National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, and Major League Baseball) from best to worst for sports fans, using publicly available data from the U.S. Census and ESPN, among other sources. 

Our weighted rankings considered:  

• 2.5x: Average win rates across all teams for the past three seasons
• 2x: Total number of championships won by all teams since the 2000 season
• 2x: Total attendance per game versus total stadium capacity (2019)
• 1x: Total seating capacity across all stadiums
• 1x: Per game attendance averaged across all teams (2019)
• 1x: Number of professional NFL, NHL, MLB, and/or NBA teams 
• 1x: Total number of championships lost by all teams since the 2000 season
• -1.5x: Average price for one ticket, two beers, one hot dog, and parking 

Read on to learn whether your city hits a home run — or strikes out. 

The Best Sports Cities, Ranked

1. Boston, Massachusetts

🏆 All Stars: Boston teams have played in the most championships of any metro area on our list since 2000 — an impressive 16, including 12 victories.

The Celtics (NBA) are legendary for winning the most NBA championships of all time, tying with the Los Angeles Lakers for an astounding 17 victories. Since 2000, other Boston teams have followed suit — including the Patriots (NFL), who have won the Super Bowl six times, and the Red Sox (MLB), who have won four World Series titles. The Bruins (NHL) have won six Stanley Cups since 1915.

2. Los Angeles, California

🏆 Reigning Baseball Champs: Los Angeles’ seven teams have appeared in a collective 14 championships since 2000, including nine wins.

In October 2020, Los Angeles erupted in celebration when the Dodgers (MLB) won their first World Series in over 30 years. That same month, the Lakers (NBA) — including star player LeBron James — nabbed their 17th championship title. Other teams include the Rams (NFL), Chargers (NFL), Clippers (NBA), Angels (MLB), and Kings (NHL). With such an impressive track record, both in recent years and throughout the decades, it’s no wonder sports fans love L.A. 

3. New York, New York

🏆 MVP for Most Teams: With nine professional teams, New York has more teams than any other metro area on our list. In fact, it’s the only metro area other than Los Angeles that has multiple teams for each of the four professional leagues.

New York is truly a sports capital of the world. Not only are the NBA, NFL, MBA, WNBA, NWHL, and Major League Soccer all headquartered in the city, but it’s home to legendary venues including Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium. Teams include the Jets (NFL), Giants (NFL), Nets (NBA), Knicks (NBA), Yankees (MLB), Mets (MLB), Devils (NHL), Islanders (NHL), and Rangers (NHL). However, expect to pay New York prices if you want to attend in-person — though it’s possible to snag Rangers tickets for as little as $25, fans shell out $158 per ticket on average. 

4. Denver, Colorado

🏆 Mile High Sellout Streak: With 163,598 total capacity across its three major stadiums — Ball Arena, Coors Field, and Empower Field at Mile High — Denver is in our top five metro areas for total stadium capacity.

Whether you’re a fan or a rival, you have to admit that the Denver Broncos (NFL) are an impressive team. In 2018, they sold out their 400th consecutive home game — a streak that started in 1970 and continues through the present day — the longest sellout in NFL history. Beyond football, Denver basketball fans can cheer for the Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Rockies (MLB), and the Colorado Avalanche (NHL). Even better, the the Nuggets have the current NBA MVP and the Avalanche had the winningest record in NHL last season.

5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

🏆 Stadiums With Room for Brotherly Love: With room for a total of 150,407 fans, Philadelphia made our top 10 in total stadium capacity across Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park, and the Wells Fargo Center.

Philadelphia is one of just 13 cities with teams in each of the Big Four professional leagues: the Phillies (MLB), the Eagles (NFL), the 76ers (NBA), and the Flyers (NHL). And of course, it’s impossible to talk about Philly sports without mentioning Gritty, the towering, fuzzy orange monster who took the world by storm in 2018.

6. St. Louis, Missouri

🏆 Budget-Friendly Fandom: It’s affordable to be a sports fan in St. Louis. At $85 for a ticket, two beers, a hot dog, and parking, St. Louis is one of our top 5 most affordable sports cities.

Baseball Opening Day in St. Louis is sometimes called “Christmas in April” — and for good reason. Tens of thousands of Cardinals (MLB) fans don red clothing and flood the streets, gathering for its annual Clydesdale parade and toasting their team in restaurants and bars across the city. During hockey season, fans can cheer on the Blues (NHL). It’s this kind of team spirit that makes St. Louis our top-ranked metro among cities that don’t have a team in every major league. 

7. San Francisco/San Jose, California

🏆 Going for Gold: In a tie for third-most teams, the San Francisco metro area has five professional sports teams.

Whether you’re decked out for Orange Fridays or not even sure what team the orange is for, it’s impossible to ignore San Francisco’s lively sports culture. Although the 49ers (NFL) didn’t take home the Super Bowl trophy in 2020, fans haven’t lost faith that future victories are in store. San Francisco’s other teams include the Oakland Athletics (MLB), Golden State Warriors (NBA), San Francisco Giants (MLB), and San Jose Sharks (NHL; included due to proximity). 

8. New Orleans, Louisiana

🏆 Top 5 for Winning Streaks: With an impressive win rate of 0.60 for the past three seasons, New Orleans earned a spot in our top 5 metro areas with the highest win rates.

Whether you’re watching the Saints (NFL) stroll onto the field at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome or listening to thundering applause for the Pelicans (NBA) in Smoothie King Center, it’s undeniable that New Orleans has a thriving sports culture. The city’s track record for victories means you won’t only be celebrating during Mardi Gras.

9. Dallas, Texas

🏆 Everything’s Bigger in Dallas: When we compared Dallas’ total stadium capacity with per game attendance, we found that fans fill 98% of seats on average — among the top 10 best attendance rates in the country.

With room for 80,000 fans, Dallas’ AT&T stadium is the NFL’s fourth-largest official venue, which makes its sky-high attendance rates even more notable. Beyond the Big Four teams — the Cowboys (NFL), Mavericks (NBA), Rangers (MLB), and Stars (NHL) — the city is also home to a NASCAR track and more than 200 golf courses. 

10. Chicago, Illinois

🏆 Teams for Every Sport: With five professional teams, Chicago tied for third place on our list of most teams.

Chicago’s sports traditions mingle with its music culture in unique and surprising ways. Next time you’re at a game, keep an ear out for music from locals, such as the Fratellis’ “Chelsea Dagger,” Steve Goodman’s “Go, Cubs, Go” song, and of course, the city’s talented bucket boys — percussionists who drum on plastic buckets. Its teams include the Chicago Bears (NFL), Bulls (NBA), White Sox (MLB), Cubs (MLB), and Blackhawks (NHL).

11. Houston, Texas

🏆 Outstanding Attendance: On average, 41,709 fans attend Houston sporting events per game, earning the metro a spot on our top 10 for best attendance.

Despite Houston’s impressive track record for sports, local fans bemoan the city’s still-untapped potential. According to Texas Monthly, the city is “undeniably cursed” by athletes who depart for teams in other parts of the country. Nonetheless, fans still crowd its iconic stadiums — including NRG Stadium, Minute Maid Park, and the Toyota Center — to support the Rockets (NBA), Astros (MLB), and Texans (NFL) through thick and thin. 

12. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

🏆 Won’t Break the Bank: Sports fans in Milwaukee pay just $88 for a ticket, two beers, a hot dog, and parking, which is why it earned a spot among our 10 most affordable sports cities.

Not only is it affordable to spectate in Milwaukee, but the city’s MLB team, the Brewers, are named for its historic beer tradition. Even better, this year the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) — including standout player Giannis Antetokounmpo — won their first championship in 50 years!

13. Salt Lake City, Utah

🏆 Affordable Options: Sports fans in Salt Lake City pay just $90 for a ticket, two beers, a hot dog, and parking, making it one of the 10 most affordable cities on our list.

It’s no secret that Utah sports fans rally around the Utah Jazz (NBA) — but the state’s sports culture goes far beyond basketball. Cycling, hockey, and even sheepdog championships provide a unique local twist for adventurous sports fans.  

14. Kansas City, Missouri

🏆 Winning at More Than BBQ: With a win rate of 0.59 across the past three seasons, Kansas City landed among the 10 metros with the best records.

From community pitches to The K’s brilliant green diamond, Kansas City offers a thrilling variety of experiences for sports fans. Even better, the city’s teams have an excellent track record. The Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) made the past two Super Bowls and had the NFL’s highest winning average in 2020. The Royals (MLB) won the World Series in 1985 and 2015. 

15. Green Bay, Wisconsin

🏆 Singular Success: As one of only two metros in our top 16 with just one team that met our criteria — the Packers — Green Bay also had the highest win rate across the past three seasons (0.68).

Every fall, Packers fans (NFL) don their iconic cheeseheads and crowd Lambeau Field for another season. Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers is the third-highest on the NFL’s all-time regular season career passer rating list and has a regular season career passer rating of over 100 — the first quarterback ever reach that milestone.

16. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

🏆 True Champions: Pittsburgh teams have competed in six championships since 2000 — and brought home five wins. That places the metro among our 10 best in terms of championships.

When it comes to dressing up for games, Pittsburgh fans have it easy:  the Steelers (NFL), Pirates (MLB) and Penguins (NHL) all share black and gold colors. With an excellent track record for championships, the Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates give fans plenty to cheer about. 

The 10 Worst Sports Cities

Unfortunately, not all metro areas are ideal for sports fans. By our calculations, the worst sports cities in America are:

1. Cincinnati, Ohio: Bengals (NFL), Reds (MLB)
2. Jacksonville, Florida: Jaguars (NFL)
3. Sacramento, California: Kings (NBA)
4. Orlando, Florida: Magic (NBA)
5. Columbus, Ohio: Blue Jackets (NHL)
6. San Diego, California: Padres (MLB)
7. Memphis, Tennessee: Grizzlies (NBA)
8. Raleigh, North Carolina: Hurricanes (NHL)
9. Buffalo, New York: Bills (NFL), Sabres (NHL)
10. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota: Vikings (NFL), Timberwolves (NBA), Twins (MLB), Wild (NHL)

These metros have half as many professional teams on average — just two, compared to the average of four teams in our top 16. Minneapolis-St. Paul is the only metro in our bottom 10 with one team from each of the Big Four leagues. 

They’re also less likely to win, with an average win rate of 0.450 compared to 0.550 in our top 16 cities. Given this, it’s not surprising that the teams in our bottom 10 metros have appeared in just two championships since 2000 — Raleigh and Orlando — versus the 56 championship wins and 35 losses among teams from our top 16 cities.

On the bright side, it’s more affordable to attend sporting events in our bottom 10 cities — just $98 on average, compared to $119 in our top 16.

Methodology

Our analyses included metro areas that are home to at least one of the major four professional teams (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL). Each metro was ranked based on its teams’ performance, fandom, and stadium. Data were sourced from ESPN and AZ Big Media.

To measure performance of all teams in a metro, we assessed:

• Average performance across all teams in the metro in the past 3 seasons 
• Championship game appearances since 2000

We only ranked teams that were in their specific city in 2019 and earlier (thus did not include the Las Vegas Raiders, as their first season in Las Vegas was in 2020).

The accessibility of games was measured by the seating availability and cost to attend a  game in each metro:

• Total seating capacity across all stadiums in the metro
• Average cost to attend a sporting event at a stadium in each metro area (including one ticket, two beers, one hot dog, and parking)

A team’s ability to draw fans — especially fair-weather or bandwagon fans — relates to its overall performance and ability to make it to postseason games, so we included a measure of fandom in our ranking as well. To measure fandom objectively, we focused on attendance:

• Average per-game attendance in 2019 per team (summed across all teams in the metro area)
• Attendance as a percentage of total stadium capacity in the area

Note: We did not consider 2020 attendance, due to widespread adjustments for the pandemic.

Each metric was standardized, then weighted using the following weights:

• 2.5x: Average win rates across all teams for the past three seasons
• 2x: Total number of championships won by all teams since the 2000 season
• 2x: Total attendance per game versus total stadium capacity (2019)
• 1x: Total seating capacity across all stadiums
• 1x: Per game attendance averaged across all teams (2019)
• 1x: Number of professional NFL, NHL, MLB, and/or NBA teams 
• 1x: Total number of championships lost by all teams since the 2000 season
• -1.5x: Average price for one ticket, two beers, one hot dog, and parking 

All standardized and weighted scores were summed, then ranked from highest (best sports city) to lowest (worst sports city).

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