The Best & Worst Sports Cities in America | A Conversation with Sportswriter Tom Haberstroh
Oct 14, 2024
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Tom Haberstroh, a sportswriter and author of The Finder Substack, breaks down his fascinating rankings of America's top sports cities. Discover how Charlotte disappoints despite its potential, while Atlanta often flies under the radar. Denver shines with its impressive sports triumphs for a smaller city. The conversation dives into the struggles of New York, Kansas City's surprising successes, and the critical impact of championships versus fan engagement. Prepare for unexpected insights, especially regarding the top-ranked city!
The ranking methodology for sports cities prioritizes recent performance metrics rather than historical success or team popularity, ensuring fair evaluation.
Charlotte's poor ranking as the worst sports city is attributed to a decade without championships and limited postseason success across its teams.
Kansas City's top position among sports cities highlights how championship wins, effective management, and strong fan support can elevate even smaller markets.
Deep dives
Methodology Behind Rankings
The ranking of sports cities is based on a performance-driven methodology that evaluates success across three key factors: regular season performance, postseason appearances, and titles won. Regular season success and postseason participation each count for 20%, while titles won are weighted more heavily at 60%. This approach ensures a comprehensive analysis of team performance over a decade, rather than relying on historical success or fan sentiment, which can skew perceptions of a city's sports reputation. Additionally, adjustments are made for cities with multiple teams to avoid unfair advantages, creating a level playing field for evaluation.
Charlotte's Disappointing Performance
Charlotte ranks as the worst major sports city in the country, a result of failing to secure any championships over the past ten years and having only five postseason appearances across all its teams. The Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, and the recently introduced Charlotte FC collectively have a dismal win percentage that has dropped significantly in recent years. With a mere 2.8 score out of 100 in the rankings, Charlotte's sports teams have consistently underperformed, drawing frustration from fans. The Hornets have never advanced to the conference finals, while the Panthers' brief successes feel like distant memories amid a string of disappointing seasons.
The Surprising Case of Chicago
Despite its status as a major sports city with six professional teams, Chicago ranks low in the sports city rankings due to a lack of recent championships. The Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, and Fire all have a storied history, but their recent trophies are few and far between, with only the Cubs winning a championship in 2016. This contrasts sharply with the city's rich sports culture, which is filled with iconic moments and legendary figures. Ultimately, the ranking reflects recent performance rather than historical achievements, leaving fans frustrated by the underwhelming success of their favorite teams.
Kansas City's Unexpected Dominance
Kansas City emerges as the top-ranked sports city largely thanks to the success of the Chiefs, who have won multiple Super Bowls in recent years, along with the Kansas City Royals, who clinched a World Series title in 2015. Despite being the 34th largest American TV market, their sports teams' achievements outshine many larger cities, demonstrating a remarkable ability to win at high levels. The Royals’ substantial postseason appearances enhance their standing, showing consistent competitiveness. This combination of championship success puts Kansas City at the forefront, highlighting the impact of effective management and fan support in achieving sporting excellence.
The Role of Market Size in Sports Success
The discussion on sports cities inevitably touches on the impact of market size on team performance, where cities like New York and Los Angeles boast many teams yet struggle to win championships. In contrast, cities like Kansas City and Denver, which have fewer teams, often outperform larger markets in postseason success and overall championships. The balance between market size and successful franchises raises questions about recruitment and fan engagement, suggesting that a smaller market can thrive despite fewer resources. This reveals that talent, management, and fan support can outweigh the mere presence of franchises in determining a city's sports success.
Today's guest is Tom Haberstroh, sportswriter and the man behind The Finder Substack. Tom and I break down his list of the Top 25 Best Sports Cities in America, learning the story of how the list together, the biggest surprises in the Top 25 and which city is the best for sports in the country right now. Trust me, you won't guess who comes in at number one. Enjoy!
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