Cities with the Best Sports Facilities

We went through and ranked the best US cities based on the state of their Sports Facilities. Also included in the factoring is the overall fan atmosphere, game experience, and history of the Stadiums.

We chose cities that have at three different styles of pro sports stadiums (Football, Baseball & Hockey or Basketball). Notably missing from this list are cities from the west coast as none of the cities qualified. Amazing!

 

WORKS IN PROGRESS

15. Tampa: Raymond James – Tropicana Field – St. Pete Times Forum

Our Take: Raymond James and it’s faux pirate ship has been very serviceable football stadium. The Times Forum has done a decent job of getting Floridians excited about Hockey. Tropicana field holds down the area rankings. Will the Rays ever get a place they can be proud of?

 

14. Miami: Landshark Stadium - American Airlines Arena - Bank Atlantic Center

Our Take: American Airline Arena is as cool looking as Miami Beach. The newly named Landshark Stadium is good for football not for baseball. Miami is not known as a great sports town, but once the Marlins get their own place their stadiums will be first class.

 

13. Dallas: Texas Stadium – American Airlines Center – Ballpark @ Arlington

Our Take: The Ballpark @ Arlington is so-so for a new facility. American Airlines Center has amazing architecture but Texas Stadium’s age is starting to show it’s age. The completion of the The New Cowboys Stadium will significantly improve their overall sports infrastructure.

 

12. Pittsburgh: Heinz Field – PNC Park - Mellon Arena

Our Take: It’s hard to match the enthusiasm the city has for the Steelers and Pens, however the Pirates only get people to the games when there are fireworks. PNC Park and Heinz Field are world class and perhaps when the Igloo is replaced Pittsburgh will be ranked higher.

11. New York: Citi Field- Yankee Stadium- Meadowlands- Madison Square Garden

Our Take: The New Stadiums have received their fair share of criticism but New York will be king of the hill if once the Meadowlands gets replaced and MSG gets updated. The Meadowlands need to become more accessible to New Yorkers who love to ride the subway.

 

GREAT BUT NEED MORE MEMORIES

10. Denver: Coors Field - Invesco Field - Pepsi Center

Our Take: Denver has a really solid line up. Perhaps another championship would change our outlook. Coors field is a gem among ballparks. Invesco Field and the Pepsi Center are at least interesting.

 

9. Washington DC: Nationals Ballpark – FedEx Field – Verizon Center

Our Take: Washington DC loves to throw money at things. All the facilities are nice and are accessible by Metro Rail. No real great sports memories from these places though and fans only seem to care about the Redskins.

 

GREAT STADIUMS, OK FANS

8. Atlanta: Georgia Dome – Turner Field – Phillips Center

Our Take: Atlanta has three good facilities two of which were used in the 1996 Olympics. The Phillips Center gets good marks for an arena and Turner Field is one of the most fan friendly places you’ll find. If the fans woke up and had more passion for their teams then Atlanta would probably be ranked higher.

 

7. Phoenix: Chase Field – Jobing.com –  US Airways Center- University of Phoenix

Our Take: The Phoenix area has two sports complex areas. All the arenas are relatively new and state of the art. 

University of Phoenix has hosted two very memorable games already and Chase Field had a fantastic World Series. Four arenas for four teams – the money for stadiums is there… are the fans?

 

SPORTS STADIUM HOTBEDS

6. Boston: Gillette- Fenway- TD Garden

Our Take: While Boston might be the best sports town in America right now, Bostonians might get huffy when they find out they are not ranked number one. Fenway is a great place and keeps getting better.

The TD Garden is a good place to watch a game, but the outside area after 13 years still seems unfinished. Gillette is great, but too far away from the main population.

 

 

5. Chicago – Wrigley Field- US Cellular- Soldier Field- United Center

Our Take: Chicago has long been a mecca for sports. The city boast some of the most historic teams in all of the sports world. Wrigley Field is as about much fun as you can have during the day but should take notes from Fenway on how to update their amenities.

The United Center is huge but in the middle of nowhere. There are a lot of mixed reviews about the new Soldier Field but it has a great location. Developers missed the boat on US Cellular.

4. Cleveland: Browns Stadium- Progressive Field – Quicken Loans

Our Take: Cleveland is not the “Mistake by the Lake” anymore. Progressive Field has been one of the best places to see a game for a very long time now as fan support is rabid in Cleveland.

Quicken Loans Center is decent and the Browns Stadium finally gave the Brownies a place they can be proud of.

 

 

3. Detroit: Ford Field – Comerica Park – Joe Louis – Place at Auburn Hills

Our Take: Ford Field has done a nice job at hosting big events. The Joe is really one of the best throw back places to watch a hockey game.

Comerica is interesting because it’s a pitchers park but does seem to lack a certain charm. The Palace at Auburn Hills notoriously known for it’s debauchery.

 

 

2. Houston: Reliant Stadium – Minute Maid Park – Toyota Center

Our Take: In Houston, it’s either go big or go home. All the stadiums here are climate controlled, Phoenix is the only other city that has invested this much to provide their fans with a comfortable viewing experience.

Reliant had some quality questions surface after Hurricane Ike gave it a beating and Minute Maid was a little too Mickey Mousy for us to make it number one.

 

1. Philadelphia: Lincoln Financial Field- Citizens Park- Wachovia Center

Our Take: The most overly passionate fans have some of the best facilities in the country. Citizens Bank gets very high marks from the Crosshair Guide. The Linc is ominous and dark which is very fitting for the city and team it represents.

The Wachovia Center  is a standard arena design but does the job well. There is plenty of parking and public transportation as all the stadiums are in one area. The only knock on Philly is the lack of amenities around the Sports Complex.

Posted in Cities