2015's Best And Worst Cities For Football Fans

Last updated on Thursday, January 29, 2015

(UNDATED) - For fans, football is more than just a game — it’s a sacred American tradition. From judging the best Super Bowl ads and perfecting their legendary game-day chili to tailgating with other fans and sporting their team’s colors, fanatics have a lot to be excited about.

Just how crazy are Americans about the game? Of the 168 million adults in the U.S. who follow sports, 49 percent are loyal to football. To put that in perspective, football fans outnumber baseball fans by a solid 30.24 million and basketball fans by 35.28 million.

And while most football enthusiasts might be too busy rooting for their favorite teams to notice the dollar signs behind the sport, others like WalletHub are tracking its cash flow. Revenue from ticket and merchandise sales, food and beverage consumption, and transportation and lodging, as well as the creation of new jobs and businesses are all a huge boon to local economies.

With Super Bowl XLIX upon us, WalletHub crunched the numbers to identify the best cities for football fans. We analyzed 142 of the largest U.S. cities based on 11 key metrics, ranging from the number of NFL and college football teams to average ticket prices. Check out the rankings below and our Super Bowl XLIX By the Numbers infographic for more interesting facts about the biggest sporting event of the year.

To identify the best cities for football fans, WalletHub analyzed 142 U.S. cities with at least one college or professional football team based on 11 key metrics, ranging from the number of NFL and college football teams to average ticket prices.

Indianapolis ranked at number 14; West Lafayette at 78; Muncie at 96 and Bloomington ranking at 129.

Best Cities for Football Fans
1. Green Bay, WI
2. East Lansing, MI
3. Pittsburgh, PA
4. Denver, CO
5.Tuscaloosa, AL
6. San Francisco, CA
7. Dallas, TX
8. Cincinnati, OH
9. Boston, MA
10. Minneapolis, MN

Worst Cities for Football Fans
142. Las Vegas, NV
133. El Paso, TX
134. Norfolk, VA
135. Lexington, KY
136. Winston-Salem, NC
137. Albuquerque, NM
138. Colorado Springs, CO
139. Akron, OH
140. Mobile, AL
141 Tulsa, OK

Key Stats

The performance level of the NFL team is four times higher in Denver than in Jacksonville, Fla.

The performance level of the college football team(s) is 11 times higher in Columbus, Ohio, than in Moscow, Idaho.

The average ticket price for an NFL game is two times higher in Boston than in Cleveland.

The number of sports bars per capita is 37 times higher in Morgantown, W.Va., than in Evanston, Ill.

The viewership rate for NFL games is three times higher in Green Bay, Wis., than in Oakland, Calif.

To see more stats visit http://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-football-fans/9691/

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