The Best North American Sports Cities
By my count, there are currently 47 North American cities that host at least one team from the four major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL). Between the four leagues, there are 124 teams spread across the United States and parts of Canada. These teams form strong bonds with their cities and fierce rivalries with others. Every fan relishes defeating opponents and exercising their superiority over the suckers on the losing team.
Sports Culture has led to the success of a team becoming a pillar of the city’s cultural identity. Winning sports teams can even have positive impacts on the city’s economy! I’ve also noticed that the residents of winning cities tend to exude more self-confidence, ignorance, and pride (cough, Boston, cough).
So how do these cities stack up? I’ve made it my mission to objectively and definitively rank the top ten cities (in terms of sports) to finally settle the debate. You’re welcome.
Before I begin, here are my ranking criteria;
This is not a ranking of which city has the most combined championships. Championships do matter in the ranking, but only officially recognized championships that continue to be won (no AFL Champion nonsense)
I am only ranking based off of the four major sports leagues; NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL. College, MLS, WNBA, Lacrosse, etc. = Forget about it, it’s my list
Cities only qualify if they have at least TWO teams from the four leagues, one just can’t cut it (sorry Montreal, Oakland, San Antonio)
Championships, overall team success, fans, history and notable players are the variables that are being weighed and compared
Ultimately, final rankings come down to my opinion - deal with it
Dishonourable Mentions
Cleveland - Browns, Cavaliers, Guardians
A pathetic group of teams with only three titles between them (the eight championships the Browns won during the segregation period in America don’t count - see 1st criteria) - two of them before the Eisenhower administration, and the other a once-in-a-lifetime LeBron James masterpiece. These teams are synonymous with choking, awful ownership/management, ugly uniforms, and sports insecurity. Truly pathetic.
Charlotte - Panthers, Hornets
I almost forgot about Charlotte when making the dishonourable mentions. What a forgettable couple of teams with ZERO notable players, history, or titles. The Hornets have never made it past the second round, and the Panthers have lost two heartbreaking Super Bowls. Can you imagine being a devoted fan of these teams - I can’t, the stupid obsession with teal would make me go mad.
Houston - Texans, Rockets, Astros
This is going to make some people mad. Hear me out; the Texans are a lame and boring team that hasn’t won anything, the Rockets went back-to-back in a Jordan-less NBA and have been chokers ever since, and the Astros are the least-liked team in professional sports who’ve won a couple rings amid an embarrassing cheating scandal. I can’t stand the obnoxious Houston fans who continue to justify the cheating. My way of exacting justice (looking at you Manfred) is to punish Houston in this ranking. I acknowledge that there are worse cities when it comes to winning, but there is no city that is as big a loser as Houston (just the sports). Eat it Houston!
Honourable Mentions
Milwaukee - Packers, Bucks, Brewers
I’m grouping Green Bay into Milwaukee and that’s what carries Cream City into an honourable mention. Great fans, 6 Championships, and a host of great players; Kareem, Favre, Rodgers, Giannis, Yount, and Starr. Milwaukee has history and pride. Unfortunately, the Brewers haven’t done anything, and the Bucks/Packers have underperformed in the last 50 years (even with three rings).
Atlanta - Falcons, Hawks, Braves
Good fans and some decent teams, but the lows outweigh the highs. The Hawks haven’t made a finals since JFK’s first year and the Falcons are responsible for the worst collapse in sports history. The Braves on the other hand have been one of the more successful teams in baseball. Even with the disappointments and letdowns, they still have 5 rings between them, a cool fanbase, and consistent colours.
Denver - Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies, Avalanche
Denver is geographically isolated and is the only city with a true home-field advantage. To me, it’s the most unique city in all of sports. It also helps that all three teams have won a Championship (seven combined). What holds Denver back is its lack of historical success and big-name stars. However, that is slowly changing as Denver has recently become one of the winningest cities on the continent. HOT TAKE ALERT: In 40 years Denver will undisputedly make the top 10.
Now onto the Top 10!
10. Dallas - Cowboys, Mavericks, Rangers, Stars
Dallas comes in strong at 10. The Cowboys are the most valuable sports team in the world with the biggest brand and fanbase on the continent. The Mavericks and the Stars each have a ring, and the Rangers have been a competitive but often underwhelming team. Dallas earns the tenth spot on this ranking because of the juggernaut that is the Cowboys, weird celebrity team owners, crazy expensive high-tech sports venues, and a strong lineup of star power; Dirk, Aikman, Luka Doncic, A-Rod, Pudge Rodriguez, Terrell Owens, Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Nolan Ryan, Beltré, and Mike Modano.
9. Toronto - Raptors, Blue Jays, Maple Leafs
With 16 total championships (13 of those are the Leafs who haven’t won since the Summer of Love) Toronto boasts a surprisingly successful lineup of teams. Since the Raptors and Jays are the only Canadian teams in their respective leagues, there are millions of Toronto sports fans scattered across the country. As a result, Toronto has a large and passionate fan base with teams that seem to always be competitive. Raptors aside, the rest of the teams have been mostly disappointing over the last 30 years. Add all that together and you get a worthy ninth spot; solid and fun with a handful of championships, but nothing spectacular (star power is pretty brutal because nobody wants to live in Canada).
8. Miami - Dolphins, Heat, Marlins, Panthers
Miami is a tough one to rank. Team success has been scattered with years of terrible play, but the peaks have been epic and historic (Panthers really don’t matter). The fans aren’t anything spectacular and get a negative reputation from the rest of the country, but support is very strong when the teams are winning. That obviously doesn’t mean very much, but it's part of Miami’s weird sports identity. The city has won 7 championships (most recently in 2013) and experienced some of the truly special and great moments in sports history. The Dolphins own the NFL’s only perfect season, the Marlins won upset the Indians and the heavily favoured Yankees in the World Series, and the Heatles won back-to-back NBA titles with the help of the clutches shot in NBA history. And obviously, they’ve had some pretty great players; LeBron James, Dan Marino, Dwyane Wade, Hanley Ramirez, Cabrera, Jimmy Butler, Alonzo Mourning, Jason Taylor, etc.
7. Detroit - Lions, Pistons, Tigers, Red Wings
Detroit has won 18 championships! A shockingly high number for a city with a reputation as one of the biggest losers in pro sports. Other than the Lions (a joke of a franchise) every other team has won at least 3 titles. I believe the main reason for Detroit’s bad rep as a sports town has more to do with the city itself than the actual performance of the teams. The fans are passionate (often a little too much), and the teams have a unique swagger to them. I find myself often rooting for Detroit and their fans (they could use a little love) and admiring the physical and prideful playing style embodied by most of their franchises (Lions excluded).
6. Philly - Eagles, 76ers, Phillies, Flyers
Surprisingly low? What’s surprising is that for all of Philly’s pride, boasting, and craziness, they have a combined 7 titles. That’s it. All four teams have been historically competitive and successful, but have been consistently disappointing and underwhelming in big moments. Especially when you consider Philly has boasted players like Dr. J, Mike Schmidt, Allen Iverson, Lindros, Embiid, Giroux, Charles Barkley, Provorov, Brian Dawkins, Reggie White, Donovan McNabb, Steve Carlton, Wilt Chamberlain, Bryce Harper and Moses Malone. Philly has more bark than their bite, but that doesn’t take away from possibly the best fans in the world, a history of success, and deep rivalries with half the cities on the continent. It’s a testament to Philly’s confident persona that the rest of the sports world doesn’t crucify them for their obnoxious behaviour when they only boast a mediocre number of titles (same as Denver, and you surely don’t hear them yelling about it).
We’re now into the Top Five. The elites.
5. Chicago - Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks
Chicago has a bit of Philly syndrome - less success than their reputation would garner. What separates Chicago is that they’ve had more success (19 combined titles) and boasted some of the most successful teams in sports history. The 90s Bulls and the 85 Bears are two of the most popular teams in the history of sports. While recent Chicago teams have been mostly disappointing, Chicago has experienced some truly iconic moments and boosted sports icons like Michael Jordan, Walter Peyton, Sammy Sosa (cheater), Scottie Pippen, Gale Sayers, Shoeless Joe Jackson (probably a cheater), Patrick Kane and Bobby Hull. Chicago is easily one of the three most historical cities in all of sports, the fans are hilarious, and the teams all have cool names and colours. What more could you ask for?
4. San Francisco - 49ers, Warriors, Giants, Sharks
Cool teams, awesome players, sexy uniforms, and fun to watch. San Fran is the coolest city in sports. With 20 rings, a huge fanbase (lots of bandwagons), and a truckload of superstars, the Bay Area is sports fan heaven. Unfortunately, just like the city itself, San Fran has a reputation for being priiiiiceeeyyyy. California + Silicon Valley + Nicest city in the country = $$$$$$. The steep costs hurt the fan experience. I know sports are too expensive everywhere, but it’s disgustingly high in SF (family of four enjoying a Niners game = estimated $1,028, yuck). On a more fun note, here’s a game SF fans must love; who is the coolest athlete in San Francisco sports history? The nominees; Steph Curry, Joe Montana, Barry Bonds (controversial), Jerry Rice, Willie Mays, Wilt Chamberlain, and Joe Thornton (sleeper). My pick: Joe Cool.
3. Los Angeles - Rams, Chargers, Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, Angels, Kings
I was tempted to switch San Fran and LA, but I resisted. While awesome and historically successful, LA just doesn’t have the passion across all sports that San Francisco does. The Chargers, Clippers, and Angels all play second fiddle to their same sports counterparts, and LA for the most part is a Laker and Dodger town (fans for these teams are excellent), with the other 5 teams not garnering nearly the same amount of attention, fans, or excitement. It also doesn't help that both the Raiders and the Rams left LA in 1995 (the Rams ultimately returned). But putting all that aside, the Dodgers and particularly the Lakers, have been some of the most successful teams in the world (the Lakers are the most famous team on the continent with the possible exception of the Yankees). LA lays claim to 29 championship titles, and Tinseltown obviously boasts one of the most impressive rosters in sports; Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Sandy Koufax, Gretzky, Aaron Donald, Erick Dickerson, Kareem, Magic, Nolan Ryan, Mike Trout, LeBron James, Ohtani, Jerry West, Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard, Cooper Kupp, Kershaw, and Marcus Allen.
2. Boston - Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox, Bruins
When I was making this ranking I automatically inserted Boston at the 1 spot. No other city has had as much success in all four sports (34 titles, each team with at least 5). The fans are obnoxious and unmatched, and no other city takes more pride in its teams. Tom Brady, Bill Russell, Bobby Orr, Larry Bird, David Ortiz, the Bambino, Pedro Martinez, Bergeron, Havlicek, and Gronk, are some of the most important players in the history of sports. History ✔, Great Players ✔, Awesome Fans ✔, More “per team” championships than any other 4 sports city ✔, some of the most successful and hated teams in each sport ✔, so why isn’t Boston number 1? Because they’re cheaters! Just like I punished Houston, I’m punishing Boston by giving them number 2 (I can’t go lower because they’re just too good of a sports town :( ). The Brady and Belichick Patriots were the most notorious cheaters of the last 20+ years, and the Red Sox electronically stole signs (just like the Astros) the same year they won the world series. Who knows how many other times these four teams have cheated. They have a knack for it. Just like they have a knack for favourable calls from unfavourable referees.
1. New York City - Giants, Jets, Knicks, Nets, Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Islanders
Was there ever any doubt? 8 teams. 44 championships. Some of the most iconic brands in sports. Years of mediocrity, terrible ownership, and disappointing offseason moves still won't drag New York out of the top spot. The Garden, blue and orange colourways, Spike Lee, Jay-Z, Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Michael Strahan…I’m getting carried away. New York teams have become bigger than sports, transcending into cultural icon status. There aren’t more loyal, passionate, and committed fans than the millions in NYC. My favourite detail of New York sports is that two people can be fans of four different teams. Imagine having your pick of the litter! It’s like a personal draft (I imagine different friends and family members making pitches and arguments as to which sides to join), and once you make your picks you’re locked in for life. My picks (if anybody cares); Giants, Knicks, Mets, Islanders (I’m a fan of "blue-orange" and self-loathing if you couldn’t tell). The Bambino, Jeter, Bossy, LT, Tom Seaver, Doc Gooden, Kevin Durant (feels weird), Mickey Mantle Willis Reed, Aaron Judge, Walt Frazier, Pat Ewing, 30 other Yankees, and who can forget Tim Tebow. NYC is synonymous with sports, icons, food, $$$$, and awesomeness. New York earned it (suck it Boston!!).
That wraps up this way-too-long, unnecessary ranking that won’t resolve anything,
Take Care.
