Boston Was Named the Best Sports City in the U.S.

• A new WalletHub study ranked the best U.S. cities for sports fans, analyzing 399 destinations across five major sports categories.
• Boston took the top spot overall, thanks to its championship teams, iconic stadiums, and passionate fan base.
• Green Bay and Clemson were named the best midsize and small sports cities, while Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, New York, and Dallas rounded out the top five.

Whether they’re heading off to a favorite ballpark, stadium, or racetrack, people absolutely love traveling the globe for all their favorite sporting events. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, sports travel is responsible for about 10 percent of all tourism spending. And if you’re planning your next sports trip, WalletHub’s new study has some tips on where exactly you should go. 

In November, WalletHub revealed its list of the top sports cities in the United States, which it determined by totaling scores calculated based on the total percentage of adults in the U.S. who claim to follow certain sports. That included football (which accounted for 60 percent of the total weight), baseball (14 percent), basketball (13 percent), soccer (7 percent), and hockey (6 percent). 

“Each sports category was also graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for sports fans,” the team added. “Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all sports categories to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.” 

Although it examined 399 cities across the U.S., it should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone that Boston emerged as the winner for best large cities and best overall. 

“Boston 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,” WalletHub wrote. “Some venues of note include Fenway Park, TD Garden, Gillette Stadium, and Harvard Stadium. Boston hosts professional teams across various sports, including one each in the NBA, MLB, MLS, and NFL.” 

The findings noted that Boston ranks as the second-best city for basketball fans thanks to the Celtics. Plus, it’s a “strong city for soccer fans, with the New England Revolution providing a long-standing presence in Major League Soccer and fostering a dedicated fan base.” The city also ranks fifth among baseball cities, thanks to the Red Sox, and fourth best for football fans with the Patriots just down the block. 

Fans at Lambeau Field do the wave before halftime of the Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Ross Harried/Getty Images

Green Bay, Wisconsin, took home the prize for best midsize city for sports fans, “with its deep-rooted sports culture, highlighted by the Green Bay Packers,” WalletHub shared. “The city is known for its enthusiastic fans and a passion for local football, ranking as the third-best football city in the country overall.”

And Clemson, South Carolina, scored the winning points for best small city for sports fans, with WalletHub noting it’s particularly fantastic for college sports enthusiasts. “Clemson University has very strong athletic programs, including its highly successful football team. The Clemson Tigers have won 15 ACC conference championships since 1978, along with three national titles, and they have a large stadium capacity and extremely engaged fans,” it shared. “As a result, Clemson ranks 29th overall among the best football cities, despite not having an NFL team.” 

Other cities to make the top of the overall list include Los Angeles at No. 2, followed by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, New York City, and Dallas, rounding out the top five. See the full list of winners and find out where your city stands on Wallet Hub’s website.