2018’s Best & Worst Cities for Basketball Fans
2:11 AMPosted by: Richie Bernardo
Americans love basketball. How much? Let’s put it this way: It has a fanbase that exceeds the population of Spain. And on the business side of things, it’s growing. Today, the average NBA franchise is worth $1.65 billion and draws additional revenues from TV partnerships, merchandise sales and, as of 2017, advertising on NBA team uniforms.
So it’s safe to say — considering the tens of millions of people who regularly watch basketball and the billions of dollars we shell out in its name — that we’re a little more than crazed about the sport.
But what defines a good basketball city? Top-performing teams, revenues and traditions are all part of the equation, of course, but there’s simply no game without the fans. The city itself should encourage attendance and engagement, too. That means, for instance, making stadiums accessible or keeping ticket-costs affordable — at least for a time.
With basketball fans in mind, WalletHub crunched the numbers to find the best spots in America to love on your favorite sport. We compared more than 290 of the largest cities based on 21 key metrics, ranging from the performance level of each city’s NBA and NCAA Division 1 basketball teams to ticket prices to stadium accessibility. Read on to find the full list of winners, a ranking by city size, commentary from a panel of experts and how we ranked the cities.
Main FindingsEmbed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/11034/geochart-basketball.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2xtlfV8>
Best Cities for Basketball Fans
|
Rank (1 = Best) |
Large City (Score) |
Rank (1 = Best) |
Midsize City (Score) |
Rank (1 = Best) |
Small City (Score) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA (62.76) | 1 | Salt Lake City, UT (46.02) | 1 | Chapel Hill, NC (30.00) |
| 2 | Boston, MA (61.55) | 2 | Orlando, FL (38.26) | 2 | Lawrence, KS (27.67) |
| 3 | Oakland, CA (51.29) | 3 | Durham, NC (30.48) | 3 | Cullowhee, NC (25.56) |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX (48.94) | 4 | Norman, OK (21.01) | 4 | Storrs, CT (23.94) |
| 5 | Miami, FL (45.15) | 5 | Ann Arbor, MI (20.84) | 5 | East Lansing, MI (23.86) |
| 6 | Oklahoma City, OK (44.71) | 6 | South Bend, IN (20.71) | 6 | Kingston, RI (23.43) |
| 7 | Chicago, IL (43.32) | 7 | Cincinnati, OH (20.46) | 7 | Bloomington, IN (23.20) |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH (43.31) | 8 | Provo, UT (20.43) | 8 | Fayette, MS (22.25) |
| 9 | Houston, TX (41.00) | 9 | New Haven, CT (17.84) | 9 | Morgantown, WV (22.14) |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA (40.45) | 10 | Providence, RI (17.30) | 10 | West Point, NY (21.64) |
| 11 | New York, NY (40.34) | 11 | Eugene, OR (17.24) | 11 | Itta Bena, MS (21.28) |
| 12 | Dallas, TX (40.23) | 12 | Akron, OH (17.06) | 12 | College Park, MD (21.17) |
| 13 | Washington, DC (39.30) | 13 | College Station, TX (16.51) | 13 | Spartanburg, SC (20.41) |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA (38.43) | 14 | Syracuse, NY (16.17) | 14 | Ames, IA (20.05) |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN (38.20) | 15 | Lafayette, LA (15.96) | 15 | Charlottesville, VA (19.99) |
| 16 | Portland, OR (38.02) | 16 | Baton Rouge, LA (15.92) | 16 | Loretto, PA (19.68) |
| 17 | Sacramento, CA (37.22) | 17 | Murfreesboro, TN (15.72) | 17 | Lewiston, NY (19.56) |
| 18 | New Orleans, LA (36.96) | 18 | Norfolk, VA (15.51) | 18 | Buies Creek, NC (19.38) |
| 19 | Milwaukee, WI (36.21) | 19 | Columbia, SC (15.45) | 19 | Emmitsburg, MD (19.32) |
| 20 | Detroit, MI (35.30) | 20 | Dayton, OH (15.41) | 20 | Princess Anne, MD (19.03) |
| 21 | Memphis, TN (33.66) | 21 | Spokane, WA (15.30) | 21 | Cheney, WA (18.82) |
| 22 | Minneapolis, MN (31.57) | 22 | Fort Collins, CO (15.25) | 22 | West Lafayette, IN (18.35) |
| 23 | Charlotte, NC (31.10) | 23 | High Point, NC (15.18) | 23 | Allegany, NY (18.34) |
| 24 | Denver, CO (31.01) | 24 | Irvine, CA (14.91) | 24 | Princeton, NJ (18.14) |
| 25 | Phoenix, AZ (29.26) | 25 | Toledo, OH (14.89) | 25 | Orangeburg, SC (18.13) |
| 26 | Lexington, KY (24.89) | 26 | Newark, NJ (14.78) | 26 | Rosemont, IL (18.09) |
| 27 | Nashville, TN (17.89) | 27 | Abilene, TX (14.66) | 27 | Durham, NH (17.73) |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA (17.31) | 28 | Fargo, ND (14.65) | 28 | Ogden, UT (17.67) |
| 29 | Omaha, NE (17.12) | 29 | Boulder, CO (14.51) | 29 | Blacksburg, VA (17.66) |
| 30 | Baltimore, MD (16.74) | 30 | Wilmington, NC (14.45) | 30 | Troy, AL (17.47) |
| 31 | Tulsa, OK (16.24) | 31 | Clarksville, TN (14.30) | 31 | Murray, KY (17.31) |
| 32 | San Francisco, CA (16.09) | 32 | Lowell, MA (14.26) | 32 | Williamsburg, VA (17.28) |
| 33 | Arlington, TX (15.94) | 33 | Boise, ID (14.22) | 33 | Stillwater, OK (17.00) |
| T-34 | Seattle, WA (15.72) | 34 | Charleston, SC (14.03) | 34 | Huntsville, TX (16.98) |
| T-34 | Louisville, KY (15.72) | 35 | Macon, GA (13.86) | 35 | Iowa City, IA (16.97) |
| 36 | San Diego, CA (15.56) | 36 | Greensboro, NC (13.83) | 36 | Albany, NY (16.95) |
| 37 | Fresno, CA (14.93) | 37 | Madison, WI (13.79) | 37 | Highland Heights, KY (16.91) |
| 38 | Bakersfield, CA (14.57) | 38 | Lincoln, NE (13.76) | 38 | Athens, OH (16.86) |
| 39 | Austin, TX (14.45) | 39 | Tempe, AZ (13.68) | 39 | Hamilton, NY (16.84) |
| 40 | Columbus, OH (14.09) | 40 | Little Rock, AR (13.66) | 40 | Nacogdoches, TX (16.68) |
| 41 | El Paso, TX (14.06) | 41 | Mobile, AL (13.54) | 41 | Lewisburg, PA (16.59) |
| 42 | Jacksonville, FL (13.96) | 42 | Hampton, VA (13.53) | 42 | Fayetteville, AR (16.58) |
| 43 | Tucson, AZ (13.72) | 43 | Fort Wayne, IN (13.37) | 43 | Stanford, CA (16.51) |
| 44 | Corpus Christi, TX (13.25) | 44 | Denton, TX (13.31) | 44 | Champaign, IL (16.33) |
| 45 | Kansas City, MO (13.10) | 45 | Buffalo, NY (13.28) | 45 | Ruston, LA (16.30) |
| 46 | Pittsburgh, PA (12.71) | 46 | North Charleston, SC (13.14) | 46 | Kent, OH (16.30) |
| 47 | Las Vegas, NV (12.58) | 47 | Worcester, MA (12.93) | 47 | Natchitoches, LA (16.21) |
| 48 | Raleigh, NC (12.29) | 48 | Evansville, IN (12.77) | 48 | Ypsilanti, MI (16.14) |
| 49 | Albuquerque, NM (12.28) | 49 | Cambridge, MA (12.74) | 49 | Boiling Springs, NC (16.12) |
| 50 | Wichita, KS (11.64) | 50 | Beaumont, TX (12.60) | 50 | Oxford, MS (15.84) |
| 51 | San Jose, CA (10.80) | 51 | Reno, NV (12.59) | 51 | Easton, PA (15.84) |
| 52 | Honolulu, HI (10.74) | 52 | Green Bay, WI (12.51) | 52 | Mount Pleasant, MI (15.82) |
| 53 | Tampa, FL (10.12) | 53 | Springfield, MO (12.44) | 53 | Long Branch, NJ (15.78) |
| 54 | St. Louis, MO (9.68) | 54 | Hartford, CT (12.42) | 54 | Normal, IL (15.75) |
| 55 | Fort Worth, TX (9.48) | 55 | Winston-Salem, NC (12.29) | 55 | Cedar Falls, IA (15.67) |
| 56 | Stockton, CA (9.37) | 56 | Athens, GA (12.19) | 56 | Lexington, VA (15.59) |
| 57 | Colorado Springs, CO (6.97) | 57 | Birmingham, AL (11.66) | 57 | Morehead, KY (15.55) |
| 58 | Riverside, CA (6.41) | 58 | Gainesville, FL (11.48) | 58 | Rock Hill, SC (15.54) |
| 59 | Waco, TX (11.35) | 59 | Johnson City, TN (15.53) | ||
| 60 | Peoria, IL (11.28) | 60 | Richmond, KY (15.50) | ||
| 61 | Richmond, VA (11.08) | 61 | Conway, SC (15.46) | ||
| 62 | Las Cruces, NM (11.07) | 62 | Stony Brook, NY (15.44) | ||
| 63 | Lubbock, TX (10.91) | 63 | DeKalb, IL (15.22) | ||
| 64 | Huntsville, AL (10.71) | 64 | Terre Haute, IN (15.12) | ||
| 65 | Des Moines, IA (10.52) | 65 | Valparaiso, IN (15.00) | ||
| 66 | Berkeley, CA (10.40) | 66 | Fairfield, CT (14.89) | ||
| 67 | Fullerton, CA (9.91) | 67 | Harrisonburg, VA (14.83) | ||
| 68 | Tallahassee, FL (9.03) | 68 | Charleston, IL (14.80) | ||
| 69 | Chattanooga, TN (8.76) | 69 | Grand Forks, ND (14.78) | ||
| 70 | Jersey City, NJ (8.76) | 70 | Davidson, NC (14.66) | ||
| 71 | Knoxville, TN (8.56) | 71 | Davis, CA (14.63) | ||
| 72 | Savannah, GA (8.51) | 72 | San Marcos, TX (14.59) | ||
| 73 | Columbia, MO (8.51) | 73 | New Rochelle, NY (14.59) | ||
| 74 | Montgomery, AL (8.43) | 74 | Moraga, CA (14.57) | ||
| 75 | Jackson, MS (7.94) | 75 | Pullman, WA (14.56) | ||
| 76 | Santa Clara, CA (7.72) | 76 | Ithaca, NY (14.45) | ||
| 77 | Annapolis, MD (14.39) | ||||
| 78 | Farmville, VA (14.33) | ||||
| 79 | Bowling Green, KY (14.26) | ||||
| 80 | Amherst, MA (14.25) | ||||
| 81 | Hammond, LA (14.21) | ||||
| 82 | Asheville, NC (14.13) | ||||
| 83 | Santa Barbara, CA (14.12) | ||||
| 84 | Statesboro, GA (14.12) | ||||
| 85 | Monroe, LA (14.08) | ||||
| 86 | Boone, NC (14.07) | ||||
| 87 | Pine Bluff, AR (13.84) | ||||
| 88 | State College, PA (13.83) | ||||
| 89 | Thibodaux, LA (13.64) | ||||
| 90 | Fort Myers, FL (13.53) | ||||
| 91 | Towson, MD (13.53) | ||||
| 92 | Clemson, SC (13.46) | ||||
| 93 | Martin, TN (13.43) | ||||
| 94 | Grambling, LA (13.40) | ||||
| 95 | Brookings, SD (13.26) | ||||
| 96 | Muncie, IN (13.22) | ||||
| 97 | Hempstead, NY (13.21) | ||||
| 98 | Greenville, SC (13.17) | ||||
| 99 | Elon, NC (13.16) | ||||
| 100 | Trenton, NJ (13.12) | ||||
| 101 | San Luis Obispo, CA (13.10) | ||||
| 102 | Huntington, WV (13.10) | ||||
| 103 | Edwardsville, IL (13.03) | ||||
| 104 | Orem, UT (12.89) | ||||
| 105 | Macomb, IL (12.82) | ||||
| 106 | Hanover, NH (12.80) | ||||
| 107 | Greenville, NC (12.79) | ||||
| 108 | Orono, ME (12.76) | ||||
| 109 | Dover, DE (12.69) | ||||
| 110 | Bozeman, MT (12.66) | ||||
| 111 | Cape Girardeau, MO (12.64) | ||||
| 112 | Bowling Green, OH (12.60) | ||||
| 113 | Rochester Hills, MI (12.58) | ||||
| 114 | Logan, UT (12.48) | ||||
| 115 | Youngstown, OH (12.46) | ||||
| 116 | Tuscaloosa, AL (12.44) | ||||
| 117 | Lake Charles, LA (12.44) | ||||
| 118 | Vermillion, SD (12.29) | ||||
| 119 | DeLand, FL (12.21) | ||||
| 120 | Oxford, OH (12.19) | ||||
| 121 | Missoula, MT (12.09) | ||||
| 122 | Newark, DE (11.91) | ||||
| 123 | Greeley, CO (11.84) | ||||
| 124 | Laramie, WY (11.83) | ||||
| 125 | Boca Raton, FL (11.81) | ||||
| 126 | Evanston, IL (11.75) | ||||
| 127 | Kennesaw, GA (11.59) | ||||
| 128 | Flagstaff, AZ (11.51) | ||||
| 129 | Starkville, MS (11.34) | ||||
| 130 | Carbondale, IL (11.30) | ||||
| 131 | Poughkeepsie, NY (11.14) | ||||
| 132 | Cedar City, UT (11.00) | ||||
| 133 | Auburn, AL (10.76) | ||||
| 134 | Burlington, VT (10.74) | ||||
| 135 | Hattiesburg, MS (10.68) | ||||
| 136 | Corvallis, OR (10.60) | ||||
| 137 | Manhattan, KS (10.35) | ||||
| 138 | Conway, AR (10.20) | ||||
| 139 | Binghamton, NY (10.20) | ||||
| 140 | Moscow, ID (10.08) | ||||
| 141 | Bethlehem, PA (9.62) | ||||
| 142 | Prairie View, TX (9.61) | ||||
| 143 | Edinburg, TX (9.50) | ||||
| 144 | Kalamazoo, MI (9.20) | ||||
| 145 | Radford, VA (9.12) | ||||
| 146 | New Brunswick, NJ (9.08) | ||||
| 147 | Malibu, CA (8.50) | ||||
| 148 | Jacksonville, AL (8.12) | ||||
| 149 | Cookeville, TN (7.96) | ||||
| 150 | Lynchburg, VA (7.42) | ||||
| 151 | Fairfax, VA (7.26) | ||||
| 152 | Jonesboro, AR (7.04) | ||||
| 153 | Clinton, SC (6.66) | ||||
| 154 | Pocatello, ID (6.04) | ||||
| 155 | Hackensack, NJ (5.94) | ||||
| 156 | Daytona Beach, FL (5.55) | ||||
| 157 | New Britain, CT (5.03) |
Showing team spirit can get pretty expensive. For insight on enjoying hoops on a budget and other basketball-related matters, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:
- Do you think the NBA or the NFL has a better chance of successfully adding a European franchise?
- What, in your mind, makes a good basketball fan?
- What do you think is the best city for basketball fans and why?
- Do you have any tips for how basketball fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?
Maureen Weston Professor of Law, Co-Director Entertainment Media & Sports Law Program, School of Law, Pepperdine University
Dawn M. Norwood Ph.D., Associate Professor & Program Director, Master of Arts in Sport Management (MASM), Wingate University – Ballantyne
John C. Barnes Associate Professor, Sports Administration, University of New Mexico
Brian Patrick McCullough Assistant Professor, Sport Administration & Leadership Coordinator, Certificate in Sport Sustainability Leadership, Seattle University
Jim Lackritz Emeritus Professor of MIS, Co-founder SDSU Sports MBA Program, Fowler College of Business, San Diego State University
Do you think the NBA or the NFL has a better chance of successfully adding a European franchise?
The NBA. Basketball is already an international sport with a large fan base; faster paced, more international pool of prospective and actual players who can have the fan base of their respective country. NFL is only "football" in the USA.; huge audience and appetite for soccer/FIFA on the international scale. In the US, we have large college football programs and many Americans grow up as football fans. It's hard to adopt a new sport from another country and culture, so that would take time. Also, American football still is problematic with the player health risks of concussions.
What, in your mind, makes a good basketball fan?
Supports and knows the game, players, and coaches. Loyalty.
What do you think is the best city for basketball fans and why?
LA! Two teams so there is a lot of basketball to watch and players to follow!
Do you have any tips for how basketball fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?
Tickets to sporting events should be affordable to take a family - even have some reserved cheaper nosebleed seats so that kids can catch the bug of sport excitement at an early age. The young fans are lifetime fans. But, if not, simply get together with friends and enjoy the game!
Dawn M. Norwood Ph.D., Associate Professor & Program Director, Master of Arts in Sport Management (MASM), Wingate University – Ballantyne
Do you think the NBA or the NFL has a better chance of successfully adding a European franchise?
The NBA because basketball already exists in the European market and has been part of the culture for a long time. It's not like the NBA would be bringing some foreign entity to a culture where people really don't play the sport, have no equivalent to it or no strong interest in it. The NFL tried to penetrate the European market back in the '90s and it did not work well from a revenue standpoint. However, the success of the NFL London games could lead to larger opportunities.
What, in your mind, makes a good basketball fan?
Well, in the mind of a sport marketer, a good basketball fan is the die-hard fan that is not only going to purchase the ticket to the game, but is going to spend money on concessions and merchandise while at the game.
What do you think is the best city for basketball fans and why?
Probably LA. When you take into consideration the number of NBA, WNBA & NCAA teams there (and in the neighboring cities), the number of championships, basketball greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Candace Parker - you're essentially in the midst of a basketball mecca.
Do you have any tips for how basketball fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?
Yes! It's no secret that attending an NBA game, especially now during the playoffs, can be extremely expensive and only a small segment of the population get to attend. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy the game with family and friends. Getting a group of friends together to meet up for drinks and wings at a local sports bar to watch on a big screen can be fun and relatively inexpensive. If you're not one for being out in a bar, you can have a watch party at your house complete with your favorite drinks, snacks, music, etc. This way you avoid traffic, money spent for parking, concessions, merch, etc., and you get to avoid the annoying crowds!
John C. Barnes Associate Professor, Sports Administration, University of New Mexico
Do you think the NBA or the NFL has a better chance of successfully adding a European franchise?
My feeling is the NBA is poised for successful expansion around the world, be it in Europe, Asia, or South America. I'm not sure if I would say that about the NFL. Pro basketball is already big in Europe and European fans are more than familiar with everything NBA. Also, the recent reorganization of professional basketball in China provides potential for expansion of some sort there.
I also think that logistically, basketball is an easier fit internationally than American football. Travel is a large consideration with international expansion and travelling with a party of 15-20 is more reasonable than a party of 80-100.
I would add that the NBA seems to be a better ideological fit around the world than the NFL. The NFL (in my opinion) is reflective of a strong nationalistic ideology that does not really match the diversity of the rest of the industrial world. The NBA celebrates diversity and inclusion. I think this factor will be important in world expansion of pro sport.
What, in your mind, makes a good basketball fan?
A good NBA fan is one with a ton of cash. Tickets are not cheap, nor is parking, concessions, merch, etc. The latest Fan Cost Index I could dig up showed the NBA average cost for two adult average price tickets, two child average price tickets, four small soft drinks, two small beers, four hot dogs, two programs, two adult-size caps, and parking is about $340. That's pretty rough on a normal family in a good economy. In our current economy where the income for everyone NOT in the 1% has not grown substantially in decades but costs have continued to rise, discretionary income is dwindling.
My guess is that the NBA loves all fans, but really loves those who buy the NBA subscription package on cable/satellite and also loves to buy lots of licensed merchandise. An extra bonus is if they go to a game once or twice a year.
What do you think is the best city for basketball fans and why?
I know that this is going to sound like I am being provincial but: I think the best basketball fans are right here in Albuquerque. All I will say is: Go to a UNM Lobo men's or women's game at our arena, The Pit and you'll see. The Pit is a famous sports venue for a reason and the main reason is the crowd...they are involved, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and loud. It's something to behold, year in and year out, good teams or bad.
As for the NBA, I thought the best and most knowledgeable fans were in Seattle. Guess that doesn't matter much these days. Portland fans are great, as well. Everyone talks about the fans at Warriors games but (in my opinion) it's easy to be loud when your team is that good.
Do you have any tips for how basketball fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?
Other than creating an entertainment center at home, the one hint I would give is to use the options now available in the secondary ticket market, such as SeatGeek and StubHub. If a fan has schedule flexibility and available cash, she/he can find some good deals there.
Brian Patrick McCullough Assistant Professor, Sport Administration & Leadership Coordinator, Certificate in Sport Sustainability Leadership, Seattle University
Do you think the NBA or the NFL has a better chance of successfully adding a European franchise?
Both leagues certainly have their own aspects that can influence their success of adding a European franchise. The NFL likely has the strongest chance for success as seen in their games in London in recent seasons. Also, NFL Europe (circa 1990s-2000s) has some precedence of previously made inroads in Europe with the NFL brand. The NFL also features fewer games than the NBA, which is also a strong advantage for the NFL. However, the NBA has the advantage of the broader global and continental appeal of the game of basketball - but maybe not necessarily with the NBA brand. I would not discount the global popularity of basketball, but the operational nightmare of the NBA schedule and coordinating travel for an international NBA franchise would be a major issue.
What, in your mind, makes a good basketball fan?
Just as with any fan - a 'good' fan from a sport business perspective is a devoted fan that lives and breathes everything that encompasses the sport and/or their team. They buy merchandise, attend games, watch games, discuss the team on social media and are a walking advertisement for the team's brand. A good fan stays connected to the team through thick and thin - wins or losses.
From a purist's perspective, I believe deep down any good sports fan is also a fan of the game respecting its tradition, history, and evolution. This would include being a fan of the game in its entirety - having an appreciation for all levels of the sport and specifically for basketball this would include boys and girls and men and women's basketball. This doesn't mean that they can't be critical of a bad call now and then, whether it's influenced by fan bias or not.
What do you think is the best city for basketball fans and why?
This may be a trick question. I can certainly be biased in my response and say that my team's city is the city for basketball fans. Note - I did not say which town is my team's town. However, using my parameters above, cities that embrace basketball across all levels including, girls and boys, women and men's basketball would be atop the list. This would include making the sport accessible for participants, spectators, and make the consumption of the sport as easy as possible so that fans, both current and prospective, can live and breathe basketball. I will let the individual fans or cities battle that one out. That is the great thing about sports - these GOAT titles are always up for debate and constant comparison.
Do you have any tips for how basketball fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?
This is certainly a challenge for devoted fans to consume the sport and support their team. This is also a challenge for all sports leagues, including the NBA and now a growing number of collegiate basketball teams, to keep their teams accessible to all including keeping the cost of attendance affordable for the broad array of your fanbase. Some simple tips would be to watch your team on television or any other form of readily available media - including social media. If you want to attend games, keep your eyes out for deals when a less popular team may come into town and take advantage of the variable pricing for those less in demand games. Also, eat before you go to the game and tailgate if you can especially if want to have an adult beverage before the game. As for playing, play when and where you can. It is a great way to deepen your love of the game and a lifelong physical activity.
Jim Lackritz Emeritus Professor of MIS, Co-founder SDSU Sports MBA Program, Fowler College of Business, San Diego State University
Do you think the NBA or the NFL has a better chance of successfully adding a European franchise?
Definitely the NBA. There is already a solid market for basketball in Europe, and this would open up even more opportunities for European basketball players and grow the game in Europe. There is no significant interest in (American) football in Europe. They don't really understand the game and it is more of a novelty. I think a team would struggle to fill up a stadium for eight home games a year (plus pre-season) and the additional interest from TV ratings and social media would be minimal, compared to having an NBA franchise.
The travel logistics are always going to be a concern from the time difference. Therefore, it would make more sense to actually have two teams in Europe, so that the US-based teams could have a couple of games to play while over there, but the European based teams would still face a major obstacle when they are traveling back and forth to the US.
A better alternative might be to create a G-league division with four teams, so the Euros could have high level basketball, have some of their players in the league, and be able to follow them when they were called up to the show.
What, in your mind, makes a good basketball fan?
A good basketball fan follows his/her team on a daily basis and during the off-season. They are knowledgeable about not just their team and players, but other teams and players in the league. They attend/watch/listen to every game the team plays, even if the team is not having a good season. They are objective about their team and can be realistic about the ups and downs that occur during a season.
What do you think is the best city for basketball fans and why?
The best city for a basketball fan depends on your criteria and can vary from year to year, but currently I would choose Philadelphia. You have pro basketball with the 76ers and some great college basketball with Villanova and the Big 5. They are also close to other major cities on the East Coast, so there are a lot of choices for the fans. My personal preference would be Durham/Chapel Hill, to be able to live the North Carolina/Duke rivalry each year, have ACC basketball, and have the NBA close in Charlotte.
Do you have any tips for how basketball fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?
A basketball fan has multiple college and pro games on TV virtually every night of the week during the season. Sports bars have multiple games on big screens at one time. Create a fantasy league with your friends to see who is the most knowledgeable about the game. Nothing beats the in-person experience, so look for games to attend which are mid-week, with lower demand and prices, or use ticket resellers like Stub Hub to find games where you can get tickets for 50-75 cents on the dollar. And, consider pooling resources to get season tickets with a group of friends, so you can have access to better seats and attend a couple of games a year but not have to be on the hook financially for every game. Often, people in your group will have last second things that come up which prevent them from attending a game, so you might be able to get extra tickets just by being available at a moment's notice.
MethodologyTo determine the best and worst cities for professional- and college-basketball fans, WalletHub compared 291 of the most populated cities across two divisional categories, “NBA” and “NCAA.”
We evaluated those categories using 21 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for basketball fandom.
We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
For our sample, we chose cities with at least one college basketball or NBA team. We also ranked the cities based on population size, using the following groupings:
- Large Cities: More than 300,000 people
- Midsize Cities: 100,000 to 300,000 people
- Small Cities: Fewer than 100,000 people
- Number of NBA Team(s): Full Weight (~8.24 Points)
- Performance Level of NBA Team(s): Full Weight (~8.24 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by dividing “Number of Wins” by “Total Games Played” and using the past three seasons’ averages.
- Number of NBA Championships Wins: Full Weight (~8.24 Points)
- Number of NBA Division Championship Wins: Half Weight (~4.12 Points)
- Number of Hall of Fame Head Coaches: Half Weight (~4.12 Points)
- Franchise Value (Team Estimated Value in $Million): Half Weight (~4.12 Points)
- Average Ticket Price for NBA Game: Full Weight (~8.24 Points)
- NBA Fan Engagement: Full Weight (~8.24 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by adding “Number of Twitter Followers” and “Number of Facebook ‘Likes’ per Capita.”
- Number of Coaches in Past 10 Seasons: Half Weight (~4.12 Points)Note: “Past 10 Seasons” include seasons 2008–2009 to 2017–2018.
- NBA Stadium Capacity: Half Weight (~4.12 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by dividing “Stadium Capacity” by “City Population.”
- NBA Attendance: Half Weight (~4.12 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by dividing “Average Home-Fan Attendance” by “Arena Capacity” for NBA teams only.
- NBA Popularity Ranking: Half Weight (~4.12 Points)
- Number of College Basketball (Division 1) Teams: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)
- Performance Level of College Basketball (Division 1) Team(s): Full Weight (~4.29 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by dividing “Number of Wins” by “Total Games Played” and using the past three seasons’ averages.
- Number of College Basketball (Division 1) Championship Wins: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)
- Number of College Basketball (Division 1) Conference Regular Season Championship Wins: Half Weight (~2.14 Points)
- Number of Hall of Fame Head Coaches: Half Weight (~2.14 Points)
- Minimum Season Ticket Price for College Basketball (Division 1) Game: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)
- College-Basketball Fan Engagement: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by adding “Number of Twitter Followers” and “Number of Facebook ‘Likes’ per Capita.”
- Number of Coaches in Past 10 Seasons: Half Weight (~2.14 Points)Note: “Past 10 Seasons” include seasons 2008–2009 to 2017–2018.
- College-Basketball Stadium Capacity: Half Weight (~2.14 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by dividing “Stadium Capacity” by “City Population.”
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Team Marketing Report, ESPN, NBA, NCAA.org, Sports Reference and each team’s website.
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