The Best Sports Cities North Carolina Represented Well On The List
What would you say are the best sports cities North Carolina? Here in both of the Carolinas, we love our sports. I can personally attest to them being a way of life. Whether you follow professional or college athletics (or both) North Carolina has something to offer. So when Sports Business Journal came out with their best sports business cities list for 2024 I had to take a look. And when it comes to the best sports cities North Carolina certainly made the list.
This was the second year Sports Business Journal compiled this list. They say its focus is “cities that have been the most successful at attracting and hosting sporting events”. They actually have two sections of the list one for cities that include a “Big 5” sports team and the other for those without. If you aren’t familiar the big 5 sports are Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), and the National Hockey League (NHL).
The Best Sports Cities North Carolina Has To Offer
Of those 5 leagues all but the MLB is accounted for in North Carolina. Charlotte is home to 3 of the 5- NFL, NBA, and MLS. While Raleigh is home to the NFL Hurricanes. The capital is also in the running for Major League Baseball. And while both of those cities were included on this list, it was the cities without a Big 5 team where North Carolina ranked the highest.
Greensboro ranked number two on the best sports cities list representing North Carolina. Greensboro hosts a variety of events many of which take place at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. This includes many ACC Championships including this year Women’s Basketball, Gymnastics, and many years the Men’s Basketball. So many that the city has earned the nickname “Tournament Town”.
In a press release, Henri Fourrier the Greensboro Area Convention and Vistors Bureau president said, “This recognition underscores our city’s unparalleled dedication to hosting world-class events and showcases our ability to thrive in the sports industry.” He went on to say that, “it’s a testament to the collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment of our community to create unforgettable experiences for athletes, fans, and visitors.”
When looking at the cities that are home to Big 5 teams Charlotte ranked 20th while the market of Raleigh/Durham/Cary came in at 23rd. While both cities have in the past hosted major events like the NBA All-Star Game (Charlotte 2019) and the NHL All-Star Game (Raleigh 2011). The period of time considered included January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2023 and was reflective of more than 1,500 events nationwide. And considering the minimal number of major sporting events hosted having the best sports cities reflect North Carolina is still an honor.
Hopefully, shortly we can secure an event like a Super Bowl or the NFL Draft. The Carolina Hurricanes are on a roll and could play host to some NHL Playoff Games later this year. You can read the full list from Sports Business Journal here.
South Carolina College Town Named Best Sports City In America
Top 10 Cities For Football
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Dallas, TX
- Green Bay, WI
- Boston, MA
- Los Angeles, CA
- New York, NY
- Miami, FL
- New Orleans, LA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
Top 10 Cities For Basketball Fans
- Los Angeles, CA
- Boston, MA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Francisco, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Miami, FL
- San Antonio, TX
- Washington, DC
- Houston, TX
- Oklahoma City, OK
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
- East Lansing, MI
- Kingston, RI
- Hamilton, NY
- Boone, NC
- Oxford, MS
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Conway, SC
- Fairfield, CT
- Starkville, MS
- Lynchburg, VA
Other NC/SC Cities:
35. Greenville, SC
38. Spartanburg, SC
39. Boiling Springs, SC
43. Cullowhee, NC
57. Elon, NC
100. Orangeburg, SC
Best Midsize Sports Cities
- 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
- Fargo, ND
- Norman, OK
- Birmingham, AL
- South Bend, IN
- Provo, UT
- Cambridge, MA
- New Haven, CT
- Athens, GA
- Charleston, SC
- Greensboro, NC
Other NC/SC Cities:
43. Columbia, SC
62. North Charleston, SC
74. High Point, NC
75. Wilmington, NC
77. Cary, NC
101. Fayetteville, NC
Best Large Sports Cities
- Los Angeles, CA
- Boston, MA
- New York, NY
- Pittsburg, PA
- Dallas, TX
- Miami, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Denver, CO
- Washington, DC
- Atlanta, GA
- San Francisco, CA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
- Kansas City, MO
- Indianapolis, IN
- Minneapolis, MN
- New Orleans, LA
- Houston, TX
- Nashville, TN
NC/SC Cities:
26. Charlotte, NC
42. Raleigh, NC
30. Clemson, SC
Total Score: 22.57
Football: 31
Basketball: 52
Baseball: 45
Soccer: 43
Hockey: 450
29. Glendale, AZ
Total Score: 25.09
Football: 13
Basketball: 450
Baseball: 450
Soccer: 450
Hockey: 19
28. Charlotte, NC
Total Score: 26.31
Football: 25
Basketball: 25
Baseball: 75
Soccer: 41
Hockey: 450
27. Las Vegas, NV
Total Score: 27.27
Football: 23
Basketball: 252
Baseball: 73
Soccer: 40
Hockey: 18
26. Tampa, FL
Total Score: 27.3
Football: 21
Basketball: 228
Baseball: 89
Soccer: 102
Hockey: 8
25. Cleveland, OH
Total Score: 28.49
Football: 26
Basketball: 20
Baseball: 11
Soccer: 112
Hockey: 450
24. Detroit, MI
Total Score: 29.67
Football: 30
Basketball: 23
Baseball: 22
Soccer: 38
Hockey: 3
23. Baltimore, MD
Total Score: 29.69
Football: 16
Basketball: 78
Baseball: 19
Soccer: 94
Hockey: 450
22. Nashville, TN
Total Score: 29.97
Football: 24
Basketball: 66
Baseball: 30
Soccer: 23
Hockey: 23
21. Buffalo, NY
Total Score: 30.44
Football: 14
Basketball: 155
Baseball: 124
Soccer: 108
Hockey: 7
20. Houston, TX
Total Score: 30.75
Football: 29
Basketball: 9
Baseball: 17
Soccer: 15
Hockey: 450
19. New Orleans, LA
Total Score: 31.93
Football: 8
Basketball: 16
Baseball: 214
Soccer: 450
Hockey: 450
18. Minneapolis, MN
Total Score: 32.52
Football: 18
Basketball: 28
Baseball: 9
Soccer: 245
Hockey: 49
17. Green Bay, WI
Total Score: 32.76
Football: 3
Basketball: 226
Baseball: 450
Soccer: 137
Hockey: 450
16. Indianapolis, IN
Total Score: 33.23
Football: 10
Basketball: 21
Baseball: 33
Soccer: 35
Hockey: 450
15. Kansas City, MO
Total Score: 34.24
Football: 11
Basketball: 249
Baseball: 20
Soccer: 5
Hockey: 450
14. Chicago, IL
Total Score: 34.55
Football: 27
Basketball: 17
Baseball: 6
Soccer: 12
Hockey: 11
13. Seattle, WA
Total Score: 35.83
Football: 17
Basketball: 144
Baseball: 21
Soccer: 2
Hockey: 21
12. Cincinnati, OH
Total Score: 35.95
Football: 9
Basketball: 55
Baseball: 7
Soccer: 22
Hockey: 450
11. San Francisco, CA
Total Score: 36.58
Football: 12
Basketball: 4
Baseball: 8
Soccer: 202
Hockey: 450
10. Atlanta, GA
Total Score: 37.34
Football: 20
Basketball: 14
Baseball: 4
Soccer: 8
Hockey: 450
9. Washington, DC
Total Score: 37.48
Football: 22
Basketball: 8
Baseball: 23
Soccer: 6
Hockey: 15
8. Denver, CO
Total Score: 37.75
Football: 15
Basketball: 24
Baseball: 24
Soccer: 18
Hockey: 6
7. Philadelphia, PA
Username: jharden13
Team: Philadelphia 76erTotal Score: 38.54
Football: 19
Basketball: 5
Baseball: 18
Soccer: 16
Hockey: 14
6. Miami, FL
Total Score: 38.84
Football: 7
Basketball 6:
Baseball: 26
Soccer: 14
Hockey: 450
5. Dallas, TX
Total Score: 42.38
Football: 2
Basketball: 18
Baseball: 313
Soccer: 19
Hockey: 17
4. Pittsburgh, PA
Total Score: 46.48
Football: 1
Basketball: 99
Baseball: 12
Soccer: 31
Hockey: 2
3. New York, NY
Total Score: 47.09
Football: 6
Basketball: 12
Baseball: 1
Soccer: 7
Hockey: 5
2. Boston, MA
Total Score: 50.88
Football: 4
Basketball: 2
Baseball: 5
Soccer: 13
Hockey: 1
1. Los Angeles, CA
Total Score: 50.91
Football: 5
Basketball: 1
Baseball: 3
Soccer: 1
Hockey: 24
