If you don’t live in Boston, you probably recognize their fans as some the most annoying out there, but there’s a reason for that. Since 2000, professional Boston sports teams have won 12 championships, including six Patriot Super Bowls and four Red Sox MLB wins. While the Celtics and the Bruins have only won one championship each in the last 20 years, they have both appeared several finals. Winning that much could make any town’s fan base hard to take!
Los Angeles has a lot going for it since it is home to the Lakers, the Clippers, the Dodgers, the Chargers, the Rams, and the Kings. The Dodgers and the Lakers are two of the most storied franchises in all of professional sports, and the Clippers are doing their best to challenge for NBA supremacy in LA. While the NBA and MLB teams fill their seats, the NFL teams are not so lucky. Maybe the new stadium will change all of that but only time will tell. While the Kings have fallen on hard times the last few years, two Stanley Cups in the last 10 years is pretty impressive. In late fall, a sports fan could conceivably see 3 different sports and 4 different teams in a week. Three of those would even be at the same place - The Staples Center.
When you hear Anaheim you may think of Disneyland but the city is also home to the Ducks and the Angels. Seems like this might be a great opportunity to make a day of it at the Mouse House or California Adventure and then scoot a few miles down the road to catch some hockey or baseball. The Ducks have been a perrenial playoff team so there is definitely good hocky to be watched. Not in the mood for hockey? If NBA or NFL is more your cup of tea, LA is only 30 miles down the road. Plan your trip carefully. A 50 minute drive could turn into a 2 hour crawl.
Detroit is one of only 12 cities that have a team in all four major professional sports. (Sorry soccer. Someday we hope to say there are five but not yet.) So no matter the season, there is a game to go to. The Red Wings had their string of 25 post season appearances snapped in 2017 but it still qualifies them as probably the most consistent franchises in league history. Oh, and did we mention they have the most Stanley Cup wins of any other U.S. team with 11? On the oppositie end of the spectrum, the Lions are one of only 4 teams to have never played in the Super Bowl. As of 2017, Detroit became the only U.S. city to have its MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL teams play in its downtown district. Sounds like a fans dream.
Philadelphia fans are...well, some would describe them as “rabid.” They’re now known for climbing light poles, fighting police officers, and going wild after a win. We won’t comment on the behavior, but it certainly shows how excitable the fans are. The Eagles are the top team in the city, but Philly has a ton of games to offer any sports fan. In fact, the only city with a better overall winning percentage than Philadelphia professional sports teams is Boston.
Dallas has a number of quality sports teams, including the Cowboys, Mavericks, and the Rangers. Going down the list, the Cowboys have won the Super Bowl five times, the Mavericks have three division titles and an NBA championship, and the Rangers haven’t won, but they got close! Dallas is also home to many title-determination games with most of those hosted the AT&T Center, which is a bucket list item for any sports fan.
The Cardinals are one of the oldest steams out there. They’ve been around since 1882, and they have the championships to back it up. They’ve won a total of 11 times, and so fans cheer them through thick and thin. It’s crazy and can be a rollercoaster, but fans wouldn’t trade it for anything. St. Louis fans also have a love/hate relationship with the Rams, so it isn’t tough to find friends during NFL games.
New York fans are probably some of the most controversial fans out there. People get upset over how they treat the opposing fans because they can be annoying, but the way they act denotes a particular type of passion that can’t be found everywhere. Whether they’re supporting local teams (Yankees, Mets, Jets, Knicks, and Rangers) or not, NYC is a great place for any sports fan.
Oakland has long been considered a fantastic sports haven due to having three professional sports teams. Sadly, many of them (the Raiders and the Warriors) are leaving. The Warriors have been at the height of their dominance, winning three of the last four NBA titles, meaning Oakland has a lot to be proud of. While the teams are leaving, the fans aren’t going anywhere, and they still have a lot of love for their favorites.
Few cities have more love for their professional football team than Seattle. The Seahawks have won 10 division titles and three conference championships, and fans are pretty dang proud of them. Seattle was once home to the SuperSonics, too, but they moved to OKC in 2008. Sonics weren’t highly regarded, but Seattle realizes what it once had.
Pittsburgh is so close to having the best all-around sports experience in the U.S. All they really need is a great NBA team. The Steelers haven’t had a ton of wins recently, but they walked away with the Super Bowl title in 2009, 2006, 1980, 1979, 1976, and 1975. Trust us when we say Pittsburgh sports fans won’t let you forget it.
Chicago teams may not be on a winning streak lately, but that isn’t for trying. Chicago fans still have a lot of optimism and hope, and all that energy gets poured into every season. It helps that the Cubs finally won a World Series in 2016. Now, if only the other teams can catch up with championship titles.
Indianapolis has been called the “Amateur Sports Capital of the World,” and that’s a title that holds true even today. It’s home to six professional sports franchises, and it’s also the home base of the American College of Sports Medicine (where all athletes go when they’re hurt). Indianapolis is also home to the Colts.
Denver has a lot to shout from the rooftops, but none more so than the Broncos. The team lost four Super Bowls before finally being able to win not one but two in ’97 and’ 98. Recently, the Broncos even won the 2016 Super Bowl. Then there’s the Colorado Avalanche, which won the Stanley Cup twice, once in ’96 and another in 2001.
Washington, D.C. may be best known for politics, but it has a few other things to brag about. Namely, the Washington Capitals. Recently, the team finally broke their drought by bringing home the Stanley Cup in 2018. D.C. also is home to the Redskins, which won three Super Bowls in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
Miami is home to three teams that bring home the gold. First, there’s the Miami Heat – there are few other NBA teams that are more enjoyable to watch. Then, there’s the Dolphins, which led the pack in the ’70s. Finally, we have the Marlins. Okay, so no one expected the Marlins to win the World Series (twice), but they did, and it was another star to add to the list.
Milwaukee is an up-and-coming star. We say this because it doesn’t have an NHL or Major League Soccer team, but there’s still time. Milwaukee is making a name for itself thanks to the Bucks and Brewers, but it’s already one of the best places in the country for accessibility, variety, and overall fan experience.
Phoenix has a lot to compete with considering Los Angeles isn’t extremely far, but it’s got a lot to call its own. Fans are humble in this city, but they’re still hyped to stand strong for all four major teams. That being said, you won’t find a group more passionate about their team than those who cheer for the Arizona Coyotes.
Minneapolis is near the top of WalletHub’s list of best sports cities. Granted, the lack of success has recently been a bit of a dim area, but the fact fans are still cheering shows that it’s about more than titles. Minneapolis has amazing venues and a wide variety of teams that’ll keep sports fans entertained throughout each season.
San Fran has been home to two huge dynasties in the last few decades. The 49ers won four Super Bowls in the 1980s when Joe Montana led them. Now, there’s the Giants, which won the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014. It took a bit for the Giants to find a home (and a win), but when they did, the fans began pouring in. It’s all about potential!
San Antonio isn’t a great sports city because it has a variety of sports. Instead, this city has a major dominating force in the NBA. Since 1976, the Spurs have won more than 62% of their games. Because of that, the Spurs have an avid fan base that kept them steamrolling for over 20 years.
Being in the south, Atlanta takes sports very seriously. Sure, they’ve had plenty of heartbreak after the Falcons lost the Super Bowl not once but twice. The last one against the Patriots was especially heartbreaking since they had such a strong lead. Thankfully, Atlanta can count on the Braves, which won the World Series in 1995.
Houston has a couple of loves. The first is baseball. The Houston Astros have been struggling for a while, but they finally won the World Series in 2017. That being said, no sport is bigger than football. Even though Houston can’t get a winning NFL team, fans love to watch a good game. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Texas BBQ during tailgate season?
Baltimore fans have been spoiled over the last few decades. Sure, the Orioles are getting over a bad season, but before that, Baltimore had pretty quality teams. Other than the Orioles, Baltimore had the Colts (for a time). They were once one of the best teams in the NFL...until they moved to Indianapolis. Then they didn’t do so hot. Coincidence? Baltimore happily has the Ravens, now. They’ve been to the playoffs 10 times and won the Super Bowl twice. Baltimore knows how to pick ’em.
If you love football, you probably love rivalries. While it isn’t the NFL, Auburn and Alabama have had a long-standing rivalry that dates back to 1893. Both cities are fiercely loyal to their team, making games between the two incredibly enjoyable. Hope you rested your voice because there’s a lot of yelling at these matches!
The Saints are out of New Orleans, but an Experian survey lists Baton Rouge as one of the top five metros in the nations that loves football the most. Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana and plays home to two major universities (both of which showcase football as being the main attraction). Not that other sports aren’t celebrated, but football fans would find Baton Rouge especially welcoming.
Even though they don’t have as much enthusiasm as Baton Rouge (supposedly), New Orleans still loves its sports. The Big Easy is all about entertainment, so fans attend games, whether it’s the big league or local. Pelican and Saint games are almost always sold out, but this could also be a result of how well the two teams have been playing.
West Virginia doesn’t have a lot going for it, but it does have avid sports fans. Morgantown isn’t home to a professional team, but that doesn’t stop West Virginians from putting all that energy toward the Mountaineers. Talk about cheering! Townies attend pretty much every college game, and it becomes a major affair.
Cleveland gets a lot of flak for their sports teams, but fans don’t pay any mind. Cleveland has three professional franchises, including the Browns, the Indians, and the Cavaliers. Many fans remember the days when LeBron James was with the Cavs, and even though he’s moved on, he still embodies the Cleveland spirit. Cleveland teams may go through droughts, but they inevitably pull through – probably thanks to the fans.
In Columbus, it’s all about college sports, but that isn’t a strange thought to anyone that remembers the ’60s (when college sports reigned supreme). Columbus is home to Ohio State and the Buckeyes, and fans are obsessed with their team. On game days, you can watch the game no matter where you go, and when they lose? Oh, boy, is it a big deal.
