Posted by: Richie Bernardo

1. Main Findings
2. Rankings by City Size
3. Ask the Experts
4. Methodology

Main Findings

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Rankings by City Size

Rank	Large Cities (Score)	Rank	Midsize Cities (Score)	Rank	Small Cities (Score)
				255	Oneonta, NY (0.11)
				256	Florence, SC (0.05)

Ask the Experts < >

• Anne C. Marx Scheuerell Associate Professor of Sport Management at Loras College
• Alan Klein Professor of Sociology-Anthropology at Northeastern University
• Jay Coakley Professor Emeritus of Sociology at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Author of Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies
• Timothy Delaney Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at Oswego, The State University of New York
• Syndric Steptoe Adjunct Lecturer in Sports Management at University of Arizona, Eller College of Management
• Steven Estes Professor of Kinesiology at Middle Tennessee State University
• Cindy Lee Associate Professor in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at West Virginia University
• Sarah Stokowski Assistant Professor of Sport Management at University of Arkansas
• Jayma M. Meyer Visiting Clinical Professor in the School of Public and Environmental at Indiana University Bloomington
• Alex Voss Lecturer in Sport and Recreation Management at University of Iowa, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Brian D. Wood Associate Professor of Sport Management at California University of Pennsylvania
• Daniel N. Hawkins Associate Professor & Graduate Program Chair for the Department of Sociology & Anthropology at University of Nebraska Omaha
• Jeeyoon Jamie Kim Assistant Professor of Sport Management in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University
• Gregory H. Lott Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Ohio Dominican University
• Robert M. Carini Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at University of Louisville
• K.C. Mayer, Jr. Assistant Professor of Sport Management in the Health and Human Performance Department at Roanoke College
• Margaret L. Tudor Visiting Assistant Professor of Sport Management at University of Tampa

Anne C. Marx Scheuerell Associate Professor of Sport Management at Loras College What makes a good sports city? Large market size, corporate presence in the city, limited number of competing sport teams in the market, public government support. What makes a good sports fan? Support of team regardless of win/loss record, respectful of opposing teams, engaged with team activities both on the field/court and off the field (i.e., charity, community events). To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? Teams do reflect the cities they call home. The extent to which teams reflect a city is often found within the traditions of the team (i.e., mascots) and the owners. Owners ultimately decide who plays for the team and to what extent the team will engage with the community. To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of place in fandom? Fantasy sports, as well as many other technology based business opportunities have deemphasized the role of place in fandom. The globalization of sport is undeniable and a fan is able to be engaged with a team through technology (social media, fantasy sport,) regardless of their location in the world. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? Buy tickets early (dynamic ticket pricing), attend games in low demand time/day slots, and don’t be afraid to look for promo codes and coupons online. What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? Save your money early. Most professional athletes are only in the game for 5 years or less. If they haven’t saved early, they won’t have the savings to support them and their family in the future. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? This is more about community pride. Teams are a source of pride for cities. Depending on the public-private partnership, this can be a positive move for a city. Losing a team is not fiscally good for a community. The fear of losing a team can drive a city to use their tax monies to pay for a stadium rather than other issues (education, social services, library, police, fire, etc.). Alan Klein Professor of Sociology-Anthropology at Northeastern University What makes a good sports city? A whopping dose of provincialism on top of deep pockets for both owners and consumers. What makes a good fan? If by good fan you mean someone who loves the game, then you're in the wrong universe - those people are on the endangered list. But if you mean a loud, boorish, chauvinist with social blinders on 24/7, well then, you've got the lout that fits with my answer to the previous question. To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? Good sports cities have established rivalries with others. The tribal identity fosters an intensified bond with your own and hatred toward rival. Locked into this dance of acrimony, fans become extensions of teams and cities - they begin to vilify anything associated with the other, and in time, the fans just become mindless vessels of loathing. Jay Coakley Professor Emeritus of Sociology at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Author of Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies What makes a good sports city? The ideal sport city is one in which opportunities to participate in sports and opportunities to be spectators are balanced to serve the overall well-being of the city’s population. Participation opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of income. For spectators there is access to mass transportation to games and/or adequate parking at venues; tickets are affordable to the general population; an inclusive family-friendly atmosphere exists at venues, and there are adequate places for fans to gather and “tailgate” before and after games. Sports are social activities, and good sport cities acknowledge this and foster collective involvement in participation and spectating. What makes a good sports fan? A good sports fan is a person who sees participation and spectating as complimentary activities, can be emotionally connected with teams as a spectator but able to compartmentalize those emotions so they do not negatively impact personal relationships, can identify as a fan without that identity becoming the most central and salient identity they have. To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? If the teams play sports that people choose for participation, they will reflect the city’s culture. Beyond that, it is slick public relations and media narratives that create a connection between a team and the culture and image of a city, regardless of the accuracy of this connection. To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of place in fandom? National television broadcasts initiated this trend. Fantasy sports merely reaffirm and slightly extend it. People can now watch sports worldwide and become connected with teams and athletes regardless of place. This occurs more often among people outside the U.S., but there is a growing number of people in the U.S. that cheer for and identify with teams and athletes in other parts of the world. More than disconnecting fans with place, fantasy sports disconnect them from game outcomes. Fantasy sport participants focus their attention on the performance of individuals rather than teams, and team scores are irrelevant apart from the points “earned” by “their” players. This can (and we need research on this) disconnect fans with particular teams because they now have their own teams. The long term consequences of this are not known. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? Eat before you go, use the drinking fountains at the arena or stadium, don’t buy expensive identity-declaring clothing and knick-knacks, take mass transportation to the venue or park further from the venue and enjoy the walk to and from the car—it compensates for sitting during the next three hours and is good for health. What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? They can learn that they will go into debt unless they are creative and self-disciplined. Of course, they may also learn that there are high school, some college, and some minor league events that have reasonable ticket prices that enable them to attend games and have enjoyable fan experiences, without taking out a second mortgage to buy season tickets. But for the high profile professional teams, many fans learn that they are being ripped off by owners that have a captive and emotionally distracted audience for 2-4 hours, during which incentives to consume are easily primed. Once fans realize this, they create collective fan experiences at home or in a bar where their friends come together. They have just as much fun and realize that the status claims of “having been there” are not very meaningful. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? Not for the past 70 years. If they made fiscal sense, team owners would not beg or use blackmail to obtain public money. Team owners want cities to own venues to avoid property taxes, liability, and demolition costs when they want a new venue every 30 years—usually to include more revenue generating square footage for themselves and well-heeled spectators who want private, luxury spaces preventing them from being forced to mix with those they see as their status inferiors or actually wait in line for a beer. Using public money without calling it welfare allows owners to be city celebrities rather than “free riders” on the dole and enduring all that comes with such a negative status. Claiming that such a stadium and team bring intangibles to the city is mostly myth created by owners and the media people who publish their press releases without doing any serious investigative reporting. Most cities do just fine without massive men’s cultural centers that glorify masculinity and competition among men. How have improvements in in-home viewing affected the community nature of fandom? Are there any cities in which this is more prevalent than others? The large flat screen television plus significant changes in broadcast technology has allowed fans to have satisfying experiences without the expense, time and effort it takes to attend games. This has led to the creation of small group collective fan experiences in homes and bars. If team and communities provided large screen viewing options in the city center, or in other accessible places they could create positive fan experiences for those who cannot afford to attend games in the stadium or arena. But team owners, even when heavily subsidized by the public, want to retain monopoly control over such collective experiences; this enables them to increase ticket prices to unreasonable levels. Most cities have bar and restaurant owners that provide convenient access to games. The sports bar is, to a large extent, a reaction to the inability or unwillingness of fans to pay the price of attending games in person. Timothy Delaney Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at Oswego, The State University of New York What makes a good sports city? This is a difficult question to answer as there are potentially many variables involved, including whether we are talking about a major league city (i.e., Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, etc.); a minor league city (a city that has mostly minor league affiliates); a college town; or some combination? Essentially, however, it all comes down to the support that the fans have for their sports teams; the support/coverage provided of the sports team from local media; the manner in which the community identifies with the sports teams (i.e., in Syracuse, local business people and local media generally wear orange to support the Orange); and the involvement of the athletes within the community (i.e., do they visit hospitals and attend other local events). What makes a good sports fan? There are different ways to answer this question too. First, are the fans loyal regardless of the team’s performance? Are the fans knowledgeable about sports? Are the fans unruly at sporting events and try to intimidate or threaten opposing fans. Thus, a good sports fan is someone who supports the team regardless of the team’s record, is knowledgeable of sports, and displays good sportsmanship. To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of place in fandom? Myself, as a true sports fan who supports the same team year after year, I have no desire to hear about people’s fantasy sports teams as these people simply cheer for someone on their make-believe team. Fantasy sports are just that, a fantasy, they are not based on reality—other than the fact fantasy sports do, of course, exist and they are covered in sports media (i.e., ESPN). To be fair, many people follow sports only because they are in a fantasy league and that might be good for franchises but it’s not good for real sports fans who have to listen to others talk about their fantasy teams. And, what does it say about someone if they are a loser in their own fantasy?! Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive, what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? I am a season ticket holder of an NFL team outside of my home state and a season ticket holder of Syracuse University football and basketball and I have not found any ways of reducing costs! In college sports, if you have good seats, as I do for SU hoops, you also have to make a “donation” to the university in addition to the purchase of the actual tickets. In the NFL, you have to pay full price for preseason/exhibition games, which is an insult. You have to pay for parking, and hotels if you travel. This is a real concern and when you add the fact that most games are available on regular or social media, this explains why attendance is going down. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? In a word, “no.” The only way they make sense is if the city is running in the black, and how many cities can say that; or, if the city receives a share of the revenue wherein they can eventually recoup their costs. How have improvements in in-home viewing affected the community nature of fandom? Are there any cities in which this more prevalent than others? As mentioned above, the in-home viewing options have helped fans save costs on viewing games, but it’s never the same as being there. Syndric Steptoe Adjunct Lecturer in Sports Management at University of Arizona, Eller College of Management What makes a good sports city? A city that has a good mixture of young and old fans, traditional sports bars and a strong middle class population. What makes a good sports fan? Someone who believes in the team more than the individuals who play for the team. Also, they understand the individual competing in the sport is human and bound to make mistakes but appreciates the hard work and dedication put forth by the athlete. To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? I think they reflect them 95% of the time and I truly believe the great teams often times take on the personality of the city they call home (good or bad). To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of place in fandom? I don’t think they are deemphasizing the role of fandom, I actually think they’ve raised the awareness of fandom and it’s allowed for individuals who wouldn’t normally follow sports do that now because it’s simplified the game for them. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? Tailgate and eat and drink before you go into the game. What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? I think they can actually learn a lot. It can teach you what not to spend your money on when hearing about some of the horror stories about athletes and their finances. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? No, I don’t believe that they do. Although, I’m not an expert on the numbers and data about this topic, I do think to some extent they can be beneficial if the teams using them are successful. How have improvements in in-home viewing affected the community nature of fandom? Are there any cities in which this is more prevalent than others? I think to some degree it has benefited the communities because now they are able to stay up-to-date with current issues and trends. This allows for their experience to be enriched and heightened if they so choose to engage in all the resources available for viewing purposes. Steven Estes Professor of Kinesiology at Middle Tennessee State University What makes a good sports city? Good sport fans. New York and the big midwestern and eastern cities still dominate in many ways because they have a large percentage of fans who are knowledgeable; history makes a difference. What builds lots of fans is having multiple sport venues, which are supported by lots of fans with different sporting interests. So if you have multiple teams – say New York – with the Knicks, Jets, Yankees, Mets, Giants, and more – then you have a good sports city. Sport info is everywhere too. Add to that all of the colleges in close range with sports teams. What makes a good sports fan? Continued interest. Cleveland fans, Cubs fans, Red Sox fans never lose interest, win or lose. Compare that to San Diego where I grew up – we follow the team when we win, but go to the beach if the team isn’t “hot.” Interest leads to following the team, buying the jerseys, buying tickets, paraphernalia, and watching on TV. Lots of TV time leads to big commercial/ad revenues, which leads to more coverage, and interest spirals up. To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? To a surprising amount. Pittsburg is a good example; Green Bay, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago – the fans are pretty recognizable. Here in middle Tennessee we will get fans from Chicago to the Predators games – the Blackhawk fans come to town wearing their jerseys and simply take over. Lots of civic pride is expressed by the sports team, and when the team wins (or loses) the city is consumed with exaltation (or depression). Nashville fans, in contrast, are much more fair-weather. To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of place in fandom? Hard to measure that one, but there is a fair amount of evidence that the coverage by all of the available media is having an effect on attendance. I read yesterday in the New York Times that viewership of Monday Night Football (MNF) is down 17%, and ESPN is paying 1.9 billion for the rights (compared to about half that for NBC who has Sunday night football). Sunday night football is flat or up, I think. Part of the drop in viewing is due to saturation – there so much out there. But most scholars think that fantasy sports are, overall, a plus for fandom. But the fantasy viewers are no longer necessarily watching a team hoping it will win. Rather, they are watching their individual athlete perform (or not); their “fragment” of viewing is motivated differently from, say, a Packers fan who lives and dies for the Packers to win/lose. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? Most people who experience sport do not attend the live event. There is a sort of stratification going on – an “upperclass” of super fans can afford big-time live events. Most of us experience sport through the media; note that the media is ever-present at the sport venue, too. In answer to your question, though, is that the truly devout find a way to attend if that is what they want to do. They budget. Attendance at college sport is down. What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? The answer is, I think (this is conjecture on my part) that we learn something about how individuals and families allocate discretionary dollars. There’s an old paper (1977) that I thought of – in short “…theoretically, each 1% rise in disposable personal income implies more than 2% rise in expenditures for leisure-time goods and services”. So the variable is rising incomes, which you know have been flat for 30 years (since this article was written). But sport revenues are up, primarily through advertising/TV revenues. This means we pay for sport through higher costs from marketing consumer goods and services. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? Largely the answer is no. Recently San Diego refused to finance a football stadium – San Diegans have too many alternative leisure activities, and the economy is smoking hot. So the perceived need of having a stadium to be “big time” just isn’t there. Public bureaucrats (mayor and city council level) will often argue that such a publicly funded facility will enhance business in the area, but economists have a hard time justifying the expense, noting that there are only so many discretionary dollars floating around and that spending money on sport means less spending on other leisure experiences (opportunity cost argument). Usually bonds get floated to pay for these facilities, leaving the public to pay off the bonds absent sport revenues; team owners insist on keeping most of the revenues, and if they don’t get them (usually sky boxes but also concessions parking, gate, TV from the league, royalties) then they play one city off against another to get a better deal. Think Indianapolis/Baltimore, Arizona/St. Louis, Oakland/Los Angeles. But in some cases, publicly funded arenas/stadia do work – Green Bay is a good example (although the team is owned by the community – the only pro sport franchise in this condition). In Green Bay's case it makes a lot of sense. In general, the more alternative leisure venues, the less the demand for publicly funded stadia. But for most cities the answer remains no. Now, a facility for civic pride is a different question – if a city does not have a “big time” facility then many in the community feel the city is not “big time.” In these cases a justification can be made for civic pride, but the fiscal justification does not usually hold up. How have improvements in in-home viewing affected the community nature of fandom? Are there any cities in which this is more prevalent than others? As stated above, fans are now “fans” for different reasons: their fantasy team is one; traditional fans still exist. But because it is easier to track a team now then the location of a fan doesn’t matter as much, so the community basis of fandom is less prevalent. For instance, I’m still a Chargers/Padres fan, and I haven’t lived in San Diego for 30 years. But they are still the teams I track. I will watch them on TV, and if I were a big pro sport fan I’d buy the NFL package and watch them weekly. We can do that now, and many do. Next, the quality of viewing is now so good that the quality of the experience is better at home than it is at the stadium. So you go to the stadium now for reasons other than watching the game – you might like the public flavor of the event, the food, the camaraderie, whatever, but it is certainly not to watch the game. That is done better virtually (through digital media). Cindy Lee Associate Professor in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at West Virginia University What makes a good sports city? A city with rich sport tradition; more than one major sport teams which have been successful; loyal fan base; sport teams is a part of the culture. What makes a good sports fan? Fans who are passionate about and willing to support their sport teams (e.g., watch/spectate games, follow media, purchase team-related merchandise) through ups and downs. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game?

• Use public transportation.

• Accept the fact that major league sport experience is priceless and don’t try to save money… you don’t go to games every day.

• If you want value for the money, aim for minor league sport for family entertainment.

• Buy tickets from secondary ticket market vendors closer to the game day.

What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? There are many players who experience financial hardship after their retirement, which should provide some lessons about the importance of financial planning and controlling spending. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? Not really. It’s more like cities end up paying since there are less pro teams and more cities want it. Economically, it is not a good deal for cities, especially since some teams are getting really favorable venue deals (e.g., controlling most of the revenue generated from the venue, getting a property tax break, etc.). How have improvements in in-home viewing affected the community nature of fandom? Are there any cities in which this is more prevalent than others? This is a very interesting point. The spectating experience in arena/stadium is something special which cannot be replaced by HD TV, because spectating provides special atmosphere and interaction with other fans in a stadium/arena. New technologies such as 3D TV/HD TV may have greatly enhanced our viewing experience, but still cannot provide the atmosphere and interaction. If virtual reality technology connected with social media can provide these experience, professional teams will really have a hard time to get people in their stadium/arena. Sarah Stokowski Assistant Professor of Sport Management at University of Arkansas What makes a good sports city? I admit it; I'm biased (as I'm from Chicago). History, tradition and pride. Sport is like the wind. It's mesmerizing - you can feel it (the energy, the excitement)... but man, that wind can sting. It's the smell of the lake as you walk over to Soldier Field. It's coming out of The Cubby Bear after drinking a crisp 312 into a sea of blue. A good sports city brings people together. Regardless of our differences, sport brings people together. We cry, yell, laugh - together. What makes a good sports fan? Fandom is interesting because it's on a continuum, right? Sometimes as a fan we are really invested, other times not so much. Fandom differs by gender. Men appear to be fans of a sport, women resonate with a team/city. For example, at the beginning of our conversation I told you I'm a "Chicago" fan. Not necessarily a football or baseball fan. I don't know what makes a "fan," let alone a "good fan." However, these are some characteristics that I feel constitute a good sports fan. Good sports fans are invested, they care, they stay until the end (even if it's a blow out). A good fan is educated. Not only about their team but they understand the game. They come early and stay late. They proudly wear the colors of their team. They refer to their team as "we" not "they." Family is family. To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? I feel the team is a reflection of the city. In many cities facilities are seen as artifacts, monuments, shrines. What would Chicago be without Wrigley Field? Boston without Fenway Park? New York City without the Madison Square Garden. I can't imagine living in that world without such staples of society. However, although I feel the teams and facilities reflect the city, the players do not. After all, how many athletes on sports teams are actually from the "city" they represent? For example, in the MLB nearly 30% of athletes are not from the United States. Of those who participate in the NHL, 64% are from outside the United States. That's why when you have an individual like LeBron James who end up playing for the "home team" it is so special. As fans, that's awesome, we feel that that athlete really represents "us." To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of place in fandom? Fantasy sports has really changed the game. There are nearly 60 million people participating in fantasy sport, spending nearly $500 per person. By no means has fantasy sports "deemphasized" fandom. In fact, quite the opposite. It's increased fandom. It's increased fans investment in sport. Yes, now you have fans that are cheering for other "athletes" that are not playing for their home town team, but is that a bad thing? We've seen viewership levels increase, an increase in apparel sales, the demographics of sports fans had changed due to fantasy, and, most importantly, it's bringing people together. In my mind, that should be the role sport plays - sport brings people together. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? A family of 4 will spend around $650 to attend an NFL game. Expensive, yes, but isn't that why we go? We go for the experience. We go because in a way, sport is prestigious; after all, not everyone gets to go. We go because we want to post it on our Facebook walls to ensure all our friends know we were there. Paying $5 for a bottle of water is just an expected casualty. Can you save money? Sure. You can bring your own food and tailgate before the game, take public transportation to avoid paying parking fees, buy your tickets right before the game (or even into the first quarter) to save some money; however, that's going to disrupt the experience. In my opinion, if you want to go to a sporting event, go. Yes, it's going to be expensive but if you're a "good sports fan" it will be worth its weight in a lifetime of memories. What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? Based on my own personal experience, I don't think personal finance can be learned through sport. After all, many of us are forced to spend money because of sport (or due to our obsession, depending on how you look at it). I don't want to have cable; it's expensive, and I stream almost everything anyway. However, if I want to watch Monday Night Football on ESPN I am basically forced to purchase cable. Furthermore, sport is one of the only programs left that consumers are actually still watching live! It's a great way for companies to capitalize on such a diverse market. Advertisements and sport sponsorship of teams (specifically your home team) has been shown to increase buying habits. Brand extension has often turned into athlete endorsements and professional leagues targeting female fans has been particularly profitable. Some research shows that more than half of NFL fans are female. Creative cause marketing efforts (i.e., NFL and ACS) as well as focusing of apparel for women has really allowed professional leagues to capitalize on the largest economy in the world, American Women. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? No! Why are tax payers paying the bill for facilities that are closed to the public and most tax payers will never utilize? Sure you can talk about economic impact - but at what cost? In the last 20 years, taxpayers have spent $7 billion on stadiums for NFL teams. Keep in mind the NFL is predicted to have revenues of more than $13 billion for 2016. In the last 25 years 90% of facilities within the US professional leagues have been built or renovated with funding that is mostly public. Let's use my home state as an example. I'm from Illinois - as I'm sure you know - the state is broke. There is an increase in unemployment. The population in the state is declining. Oh, and the state of Illinois has the highest property taxes in the nation! I'm pretty sure the Chicago tax payers are still paying off the debt that paid for the $167 million stadium (build in 1991) that houses the Chicago White Sox. The $600 million renovation to Soldier Field (which didn't even put a cover on the stadium - are you kidding me - in Chicago we still want an outdoor stadium), which was said to be covered by a hotel tax, was actually paid for by tax dollars. Recent renovation to Wrigley Field was not only subsidized by tax dollars but also by tax breaks - for the team’s owners. Meanwhile, the Chicago public schools are facing budget cuts. However, do you want to be the mayor or state representative that caused your beloved team to "leave?" Thus, it's an endless cycle for the love of the game at the expense of tax payers. How have improvements in in-home viewing affected the community nature of fandom? Are there any cities in which this is more prevalent than others? For the 2015 season, the NFL had a 19% increase in at-home viewership. Overall, sports viewership is up 14%. As strange as it sounds, I almost feel in-home viewing experiences are not at all hurting sport - in fact it's quite the opposite. The Chicago Blackhawks are a great example. The Blackhawks used to not televise their games out of fear of losing attendance to the actual event. However, in 2007 when Rocky Wirtz took over the organization he began televising the games. Now the Blackhawks are not only a hockey dynasty - but they sell out all of their games! I think the integration of social media in sport, the use of hashtags has helped viewers at home to have an integrated experience. Our community is no longer that of our city but that of cyber space, connecting with not only other fans but with athletes and sport organizations. Furthermore, we live in a multi-screen society. We have our TVs on, phones out, computer on our lap and our tablets sitting on the coffee table - this has become our modern viewing experience. As for cities that are more prevalent than others, obviously, your bigger markets are going to play a role. Winning success would be a factor, as well as how many professional teams the city has. Also, I would assume in-home viewing is more prevalent in tech savvy markets (i.e., San Francisco, Seattle). Lastly, I would assume cities with the best fans would also have the best at-home viewing experience simply based on their levels of high fandom (i.e., Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Seattle). Jayma M. Meyer Visiting Clinical Professor in the School of Public and Environmental at Indiana University Bloomington What makes a good sports city? For professional sports, good sports cities are those that perennially have the best sports teams. The indispensable factor driving this outcome over the long haul is quality of ownership. The best owners provide the best leadership and build the best sports organizations, from players to coaches to front-office to sponsors. Other relevant factors include quality of stadiums and other infrastructure, purchasing power of local residents and history of success of the franchise. Some cities are good sports cities in part because they attract major championships. Indianapolis is a prime example. It has the infrastructure including sports facilities like Lucas Oil, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, IU Natatorium, and various college sites. It has hotels, restaurants and parking facilities close to the sports facilities that can handle large crowds over multiple days, people power including professional profit and non-profit organizations that assist in hosting sports events like the Indiana Sports Corporation, sports minded professionals (employees at the NCAA, local colleges, and leagues like the Horizon League), local residents that are trained to be helpful volunteers, and a police force adept at handling crowds. Indeed, Indiana Sports Corporation, the nation’s first sports commission, has as its mission: “To create positive impact by hosting world-class sporting events that enhance vibrancy in the community, build civic pride, drive economic impact and media exposure, and encourage opportunities for youth.” Indianapolis also has a top notch airport, not far from downtown, that has attracted major airlines and makes it easier for teams and fans to get in and out of the City. Finally, prices for tickets, hotels, food and entertainment are generally lower in Indianapolis than they would be in a major hub like New York or Los Angeles. All this makes the sports fan experience much more enjoyable for the entire family. What makes a good sports fan? Almost every sports team has passionate fans that are supportive during both winning and losing seasons. The distinguishing characteristic of good sports fans are that they are respectful and share the sports experience with their friends and family. Good sports fans are tolerant of differences, courteous to players or visiting team fans, and share a common goal of clean, healthy entertainment and enjoyment while appreciating the talents and competiveness of the athletes. To what extent are fantasy sports de-emphasizing the role of place of fandom? “Place” is being de-emphasized by a host of factors: geographic mobility of young people, particularly toward cities; global marketing of top stars; growth of eSports; and yes, fantasy sports where online focus is upon individuals and teams untethered from physical place. Yet, despite these trends, nobody should think that the power of place will recede in any significant way. Tradition passed down generations, proximity to teams for live enjoyment, local broadcast and marketing power, networks of friends and family, and the like, will govern for a very, very long time. And, note, even in the eSports world, a number of the major games are organizing their tournaments on national and city bases, essentially building new sports leagues on the same place-based pillars of the old. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? Since the largest expense in attending a sports event typically is the price of the ticket, sports fans should be strategic about their purchase. Understanding prices on the secondary market can be particularly significant, including knowing, given the demand for any particular event, when the most opportune time is to buy a ticket and which seat locations are the best value. What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? Fandom can provide a deep immersion in how the world works economically, writ small and accessibly. Every single professional and college team masters questions around budgeting in full public view of their fan base: coach and player salaries, team salary caps, draft equations, ticket pricing, scholarship numbers and dollar amounts, cash prizes and bonuses, sponsorship contracts, naming rights, stadium building costs and upgrades, media rights and more. Also, sharing revenues and how those decisions are made within conferences, leagues or otherwise among competitors is important in both the college and professional sports, just like they are within a family or other personal group. Importantly, the average fan learns that the amount invested in any particular asset is not necessarily a recipe for financial success. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? Esteemed sports economists (like Andrew Zimbalist) have been studying this question for years. Most independent scholarly research shows that sports teams and facilities do not have a net positive economic effect in their respective metropolitan area. For example, football stadiums are infrequently used for football games (professional teams use their stadiums for two preseason games, eight regular season games and perhaps a couple of playoff games, if they are lucky). Of course, owners supplement the games with other events like concerts or perhaps even other sporting events, but still the revenues pale in comparison to the costs that now are in the billions. Professional basketball arenas are used more frequently and cost less to build due to their size but they too are not a good investment on a straightforward monetary base, especially considering that the space could be used for other facilities like a shopping mall that would generate more revenue and taxes and would likely receive fewer tax advantages. A recent trend is for sports facilities to be surrounded by amenities like hotels, restaurants and additional entertainment venues (e.g., Staples Center in LA) that contribute more to a city’s revenues. This helps but as sports economists point out, the money spent by fans at a sports arena is “redirected expenditures” within the local economy (such that fans otherwise would go to the movies or another form of entertainment and eating venue) — thus, the revenues from the sports facility and the surrounding facilities are not all additive. In the end, whether publicly-funded sports stadiums make sense is heavily influenced by the extent of tax and other benefits the city confers on the owners to build the facility. Have improvements in in-home viewing affected the community nature of fandom? There will always be irreplaceable drama and a sense of community and civic pride in attending sporting events live, but the reduced costs, ease, quality, and ability to multi-task or easily follow multiple sporting events at the same time from home have already had an impact on gate receipts and a resulting loss of community gathering. That said, in-home and mobile viewing are positive for sports franchises and deepen the involvement in a very significant way. This sort of “viewing” allows teams to have continuous and much richer relationships with their fan bases centered around the games, the team, its stars, game clips, and modern analytics across every single communications platform. Alex Voss Lecturer in Sport and Recreation Management at University of Iowa, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences What makes a good sports city? I think having teams to follow year round, multiple levels of teams (for example not only MLB, but AAA, AA, or A), and support for grassroots participation and events make for a good sports city. Des Moines doesn’t have a premier professional team, but they have high level minor league teams for residents to watch year round (Cubs, Energy, and Wild) and two FBS universities within driving distance as well as other smaller institutions and high school sports. Also, Indianapolis has used their diverse sport offerings and exceptional venues to attract major events such as the Super Bowl, Final Four, and Big Ten Football Championship game which are evidence to the passion for sports among the region. These are examples of cities that might not be globally considered good sports cities, but I feel are. Obviously, large cities (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and others) with three or four major professional teams can be considered great sport cities because they have elite professional sports for residents to follow and attend year round. What makes a good sports fan? Loyalty to a team, organization, or city’s sports teams is critical to being a good sports fan. It’s not required to make significant financial commitments for a fan to support their fandom, but it is often the case and results from that person’s loyalty to the team. Personally, I think optimism for the team’s prospects and acceptable behavior watching or attending games leads to being a good sports fan. However, unfortunately, this isn’t always true. To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of place in fandom? I think fantasy sports are moderately deemphasizing place in regards to fandom. There are likely fans of football who identify a favorite team, but are more interested in the sport, compared to the success of their favorite team. Thus, they’re more willing to stay at home to watch multiple games and track their players’ performance than be in the stadium to watch their favorite team play. That said, the level of fandom for their favorite team might not have been great enough to result in them going to games before fantasy sports. However, stadiums (Vikings, Cowboys, Jaguars, and others) are creating lounges and areas where fans are able to watch multiple games and track their fantasy players’ performance. This shows that teams understand the importance of fantasy sports to the fan experience and are creating incentives to entice them into the stadiums. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? Selecting less popular contests. For example, go to a Cubs vs. Rockies game instead of a Cubs vs. Cardinals game. Go to a Chicago White Sox game instead of a Chicago Cubs game. Go to a minor league game instead of a major league game. Also, many non-revenue college athletic contests are able to be attended for free or minimal cost. Speaking with friends, neighbors, and co-workers can be a way to learn of available tickets that might otherwise go unused and, as a result, be able to purchase below face value. Using public transportation if available and cheaper compared to parking costs. Eating before the contest can eliminate concession costs. Also, being aware of concession specials or discounts offered at certain times or at different concession stands. Lastly, know what the stadium’s policy is regarding bringing food in. Some venues allow food or snacks to be brought in. While most do not, it is better to learn the policy. Each person in a family of four bringing in an unopened 20 oz. bottle of water (if allowed) could save the family $20. What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? I think budgeting is definitely something that an average fan can learn from following sports. Even if a fan’s attendance at a live event is rare, they’ll either use money (that they’ve hopefully) budgeted for entertainment or reallocate funds from another budget category toward attendance at the event. Similarly, diehard fans (for example Hawkeye fans who will be traveling to watch the football team in whatever bowl game they play) will need to dedicate a significant portion of funds to pay for the experience. Those funds have to come from one of their personal accounts and the individual should know that the funds exist and won’t cause financial strain. Brian D. Wood Associate Professor of Sport Management at California University of Pennsylvania What makes a good sports city? An excellent sports city is like a spouse in a strong marriage. The city’s fans adore the team/players/owners and their support is reciprocated. They stand by each other during tough seasons, community struggles, social change and so much more. The absolute best sport cities have players who are actively involved with the community – not out of a sense of duty or obligation, but through gratitude of the fans’ loyalty and enthusiasm. What makes a good sports fan? A good sports fan has passion for the team and its players without being belligerent to those that support the opposing team, including rivals. Sadly, this is not always the case. To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? In professional sport, some teams more strongly embody their home city than others. The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers are perfect examples of teams rooted in their cities. However, owners of professional sport franchises understand that teams are mobile and have the ability to relocate. Sometimes teams relocate due to the promise of a publicly subsidized facility and other times they wish to enter a larger market. The interesting aspect is whether or not the relocating team keeps its identity (name, mascot, logo, colors) which is often strongly associated with the original city. What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? Fans should understand that professional sport is entertainment. Going to any sport event is a luxury and not a necessity. How much, if any, of your discretionary money are you able to spend on the event? What is the opportunity cost? Additionally, there is more to the game than just the action inside the lines of play. The teams want to sell the event as an “experience” – and profit where possible. Beyond the cost of the ticket, fans can prioritize how much or how little of the experience they purchase (food, alcohol, licensed apparel, game-day programs, merchandise, etc.). Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? Keeping costs down is often a matter of common sense. The frugal spectator must determine how much, or how little, of the sport experience he/she wants to consume. Some may feel that tailgating is an essential aspect of the event and they must pay inflated stadium parking rates. Others may not wish to participate in the tailgating which may permit them to use public transportation which saves money. Likewise, some enthusiasts savor a stadium hot dog, warm soft pretzel and beverage. However, these items increase the cost of attending a game. Fans interested in saving on concession expenditures should research the facility’s policy on outside food and beverages. Here is a specific example: at PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, fans are permitted to bring a 16”x16”x8” soft-sided cooler. Such coolers may contain sealed bottles of water, but not carbonated beverages, alcohol, etc. Why purchase multiple bottles of water inside the stadium at $4 each if you can bring your own? The savings could be tremendous. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? No. Professor Andrew Zimbalist is the foremost expert in sport economics and has concisely explained why there is no true economic benefit for publicly subsidizing sport facilities or events such as the Olympics. Taxpayers would be well served by reading his books, research publications and conclusions. In addition, it is suggested that sport fans read a research study published by The Brookings Institution called “Tax-Exempt Municipal Bonds and the Financing of Professional Sports Stadiums” (Gayer, Drukker, & Gold, 2016). A summary and link to the report can be found here. Daniel N. Hawkins Associate Professor & Graduate Program Chair for the Department of Sociology & Anthropology at University of Nebraska Omaha What makes a good sports city? The passion and dedication of a fan base is key to having a great sports city. That passion could be focused mainly on one team, like the Packers in Green Bay, or on multiple professional and college teams across several sports, as in big cities like Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago. A long cultural history of supporting sports teams is in the fabric of the best sports cities, especially when it’s centered around a classic sports venue and a surrounding area that supports fan activity before and after sporting events. Sports participation in local leagues and events by the residents themselves also contributes positively to a city's sports culture. What makes a good sports fan? Great sports fans are loyal and knowledgeable. They diligently attend or watch their team's games whether they are experiencing a winning season or a losing one. They are well-informed about their team's current situation, as well as its history and its potential future. Criticizing one's favorite team is legitimate, but extreme negativity or personal, direct insults toward team personnel found in some subcultures on social media and talk radio does not authenticate one's fandom. Violence directed toward anyone in "defense" of one's team is not behavior any decent fan participates in. To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? Sports media and fans like to make post hoc connections between a team's "personality" and the culture of city they play in. For example, one could argue that the "Showtime" Lakers of the 1980s reflected the fast-paced, glitzy lifestyle of Hollywood, while the "Bad Boy" Pistons of the same era were channeling the blue-collar, hardscrabble nature of Detroit. These well-matched examples are few and far between, however, and realistically the playing style of a team develops organically from the interplay between the coach's philosophy and the players' talents, without regard for the team's geographic location. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? Amateur and minor league sporting events are great options when tickets for major league games become unaffordable. Local teams in minor league baseball, junior league hockey, or at the nearby college likely put on a pretty good show for a fraction of the cost of major league event. There is also a much better chance that fans, especially kids, will be able to interact directly with the players before or after the game, which makes for great memories and potentially enhances their future fandom. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? Publicly-funded sports stadiums rarely if ever give the community the return on investment that was promised in terms of job creation and increased economic activity. This is especially true when cities build multiple venues to host mega-events like the Olympics. There is a clear opportunity cost when cities spend public funds on sports venues rather than on infrastructure, education, health, or public safety. Some business owners will definitely benefit economically if they are fortunate or well-connected enough to have their businesses located near the new stadium or arena. That said, there is no way to quantify how remaining or becoming a "major league" city with a recognizable team or event adds to the reputation or culture of a place. However, there is evidence that residents know and resent that a majority of the benefits of a public-funded stadium will be experienced by the city's elites, and certainly there are few places where a majority of taxpayers would consider themselves dedicated fans of the team. Jeeyoon Jamie Kim Assistant Professor of Sport Management in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University What makes a good sports city? The five key elements I look for are:

1. Number of existing fans;

2. Market size and economic condition;

3. Support of the local government/community;

4. Competition within city;

5. Geographical location (e.g., weather, travel).

What makes a good sports fan? From a professional sport team’s perspective, good sport fans would be those with high consumer lifetime value. First, the lifetime value of sport consumers is determined based on the financial contribution (e.g., ticket purchase, merchandise purchase) the person is currently making and is projected to make in the future. Second, strong psychological connection towards the sport team is also a key determinant of a good sport fan, which remains the sport fan loyal regardless of the team’s success and/or circumstance (e.g., scandal) and further leads to behaviors such as word-of-mouth and display of affiliation to team. To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of place in fandom? Fandom is formed based on the sense of belongingness perceived from other fans or in a fan group. Sense of belonging is effectively engendered through social encounters based on bidirectional and simultaneous communication. In the past, place played a significant role in providing opportunities for such social encounters for sport fans, which mainly took place through face-to-face interactions in sport stadiums or in sport-related social gatherings (e.g., super bowl party). However, these days, thanks to the advancement of technology, bidirectional and simultaneous social encounters are available through the internet, social media, smart phones, smart TV, etc. Fantasy sport also plays a key role in facilitating social encounters among sport fans as an additional channel of social interaction, stimulating sport fandom with ubiquitous internet access provided regardless of the place. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? It is difficult for sport stadiums to financially justify public funding only based on tangible benefits (e.g., revenue generation). Factoring in the intangible benefits (e.g., improved brand image, social cohesion), public funding for sport stadiums may make much more fiscal sense. However, estimating the economic value of the intangible benefits is another controversial issue, as oftentimes criticized for being romanticized. Particularly, considering that professional sport teams are located in cities already with well-established brands and that brand image improvement effect consists a large portion of the intangible benefits, financially making sense of the public funding may be even more challenging in the professional sport industry. How have improvements in in-home viewing affected the community nature of fandom? Are there any cities in which this is more prevalent than others? Sport fandom is stimulated when sense of belonging is experienced through bidirectional and simultaneous social encounter. In previous studies on fans watching a sporting event alone on traditional TVs, it is found that sense of belonging and sport fandom is not effectively engendered in the activity due to the absence of social encounters. However, these days, various technological advancements are made allowing sport fans to interact with other sport fans through channels such as social media, mobile applications, and smart TVs. Also, with development of virtual reality technology in the future, stronger sense of belonging and fandom may be stimulated by availing sport fans to feel as if they are standing in stands surrounded by other sport fans. Such improvement in in-home viewing experience will enhance the perceived sense of belonging and thus fandom among sport fans. Gregory H. Lott Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Ohio Dominican University What makes a good sports city? Passion + Identity + History, mediated by competition (other entertainment). When a high proportion of a population strongly identifies with sport property/properties, it creates the basis for a "good sports city". A host of factors are correlated with fan identification, such as the length of time a sport property has been around, the level of winning, quality of facilities, the level of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) behavior exhibited by the organization, the presence of significant rivalries, level of press coverage (especially if it is primarily favorable). Population demographics are related as well (e.g., if a high percentage of a population is stable versus transient). If a market/city is too saturated with entertainment options it has a negative impact. Personally, I don't believe an area has to have a full menu of sport options to be a "good sport city" but there should be a couple options. What makes a good sports fan? The fans that spend the most money are "good" in the eyes of ownership. Those "free riders" with high public consumption benefits might be "great fans" but don't help the bottom line. To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? Sadly, not as much at the present time as many sports teams have historically. Free agency, short coaching tenures, and the changing landscape of the national economy have made it more difficult for teams to "reflect the cities which they call home". Let's take Pittsburgh as an example. The city itself has completely changed/evolved. While there is still somewhat of a blue collar feel, it is no longer the tough, gritty, outwork you city that could be reflected in a "Steel Curtain" defense that emphasized running the ball and beating up opponents. However, national perceptions of cities are altered by the success of their teams (e.g., Cleveland "Mistake by the Lake"). Boston received great image enhancement when the Bruins, Celtics, and Patriots all bringing home championships. To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of place in fandom? Sport consumption patterns are being greatly impacted. The Fantasy world fits nicely with new modes of sport consumption. More data and statistics are available, fans can stream games, watch tickers, and even consume through systems like "Red Zone". This is great for the popularity of leagues, jersey sales, star players, etc. It might not be great for particular teams and the consistent following of them. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? Yes, expenses are rising but dynamic pricing is also here. Change your demand patterns. In other words, want what others don't. Go to midweek or mid-day games, unpopular pitching match-ups, games against week opponents, etc. Deals are out there as sport organizations are implementing systems that move ticket prices in real time based on demand. Go to minor league games or games of emerging leagues (e.g., MLL). Watch games that are high demand on your giant flat screen. If you must go, look for "loss leaders". These are "promotions" where the organization will sell something (tickets, hot dogs, jerseys) as a special promotion to get you there and gouge you on something else. Understand the tactic and try not to allow yourself to spend on the other stuff. Eat beforehand. Look at website to see exactly what you are allowed to bring in the facility. Buy gear beforehand rather than "in stadium". Park further away if possible and walk (scout this out ahead of time). With the advent of "fully loaded stadiums," owners want you to be in there as long as possible. They has devised every conceivable way for you to spend money in stadium. Be aware of this. The amount of time you are in the facility is directly related to per caps. There are often volunteer opportunities with teams that allow you some types of access (sometimes you can watch for free). If you volunteer for a day at the Memorial Golf Tournament you get guest passes for the remainder of it. What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? Budgeting. Assets and liabilities. Although few fans engage sport in that type of a manner. Don't look to the athletes; they are poor examples. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? Tough not to write a book here as I teach almost a whole class on this. In short, it depends. There are too main components to answering this question: (1) Economic Impact; and (2) Opportunity Cost. The latter is never considered by the politicians, because they can generate substantial political capital with a high visibility project that oftentimes doesn't reveal its fiscal issues until those that approved the project are long gone. Economic impact studies are always overestimated for a number of factors. If the publicly financed facility is an anchor in a redevelopment project and funding (a private-public partnership) is earmarked for subsequent development, then it could be a great move fiscally. However, it can't be a hope or an expectation that the subsequent development will occur. It has to be funded. The impact is made from the total picture/plan, not just a stadium. What makes the most fiscal sense for a city is to invest heavily in the infrastructure supporting the sport facility. This has far-reaching benefits for a higher proportion of residents and can often be enough to entice the sport org to pony up for the facility itself. If initial capital is distributed by the municipality but is paid back through revenue bonds, PSLs, naming rights, etc., it is more fiscally responsible. The types of bonds used are important to this conversation as well. Robert M. Carini Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at University of Louisville What makes a good sports city? They often have rich sports histories and traditions, are often home to (or play host to) multiple sports, and have facilities that draw fans either because of their rich heritage (e.g., Wrigley Field), structural design (e.g., PNC Park) or modern amenities (e.g., AT&T Stadium). Rivalries with teams in nearby cities also help heighten a sense of collective fan identity. What may be overlooked is whether services in the surrounding community provide positive experiences for fans and/or tourists, e.g., food, lodging and transportation. Finally, athletes are often involved in their local communities, assisting with charity events and fundraisers or raising awareness about local issues. In a time when we sometimes encounter more negative than positive press about athletes (e.g., what may seem to be exorbitant salaries, lavish lifestyles, or boorish behaviors), seeing them engaged in community events may increase their popularity and make it easier to root for them. What makes a good sports fan? They keep up with the latest news about their favorite team(s) and athletes, display pride in their affiliation, and are not “fair-weather” fans. Good fans also keep sports in perspective in their lives. Even though they are “devoted” to their team and may win and lose with their team figuratively, they are still able to balance sports within the broader context of their lives. In other words, they consume sports rather than sports consuming them. To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? If an owner is in it primarily “for love of the money” as opposed to “for love of the game,” then perhaps not much. With cities wooing teams to their town with publicly subsidized facilities and other lucrative perks, team owners may easily move a team, caring little for the fan base – no matter how devoted (e.g., the Cleveland Browns before moving to Baltimore). For other owners, it would be hard to imagine a move (e.g., the Pittsburgh Steelers situated in a “steel town”). Early team names were meant to connect teams with their fans (e.g., the Utah Jazz were originally located in New Orleans, and the birthplace of jazz, the Milwaukee Brewers named for the brewing industry). To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of place in fandom? We’re still learning about the potential effects of fantasy sports in society, but it’s likely changing the nature of fan loyalty from professional teams to individual players. At the same time, interest in individual players may be becoming more depersonalized, viewing athletes as game pieces to be acquired and traded to gain competitive advantage in a fantasy league. The surge in popularity of fantasy sports in recent years has likely piqued fan interest in certain aspects of those sports, and may be increasing the viewing of multiple contests so as to follow the fortunes of individual players held on one’s fantasy team. However, there may be less incentive to attend a particular game in person. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? Eat at home, take public transportation or carpool (when feasible), and buy souvenirs anywhere but at the sports facility. What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? With uncertain outcomes and the use of both short and long-term strategies, sporting contests offer fans valuable lessons in probabilistic thinking, risk management, and the prudence of practicing patience. Sports also shows us that adaptability can be a winning strategy, e.g., we often hear of coaches making in-game adjustments when faced with changing game situations. Likewise, financial plans may need to be shifted to meet changing personal/familial needs or economic conditions. In sports, there are also specific strategies undertaken to minimize the chance of losing when holding a lead – we can draw parallels to making investment portfolios more conservative as retirement approaches. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? Generally not. The public investment is hoped to be an economic boon for the community/state, but few cities or states have “rainy day” funds to build facilities for teams, so the public must be taxed – or funds must be reallocated (often to the detriment of disadvantaged groups). Team owners, however, love to have venues publicly subsidized because it means a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility paid for by the government. Their franchise can benefit greatly from that, but the anticipated economic benefits for the community often don’t materialize. How have improvements in in-home viewing affected the community nature of fandom? Are there any cities in which this is more prevalent than others? While some fans enjoy tailgating and camaraderie with other fans, the rising cost of attendance, inclement weather, uncomfortable seating, difficult access to food and restrooms, difficulty in accommodating the needs of children or the elderly, and/or unruly fans may mean some find attendance less appealing. Also, as more fans join fantasy sports leagues, they may be less devoted to a particular team and, therefore, less inclined to attend games in person. At home, with a good “sports package,” they can move from game to game, enjoying the excitement of a number of games in a sitting. While fans may be less inclined to attend events where they are in contact with a large fan base – and more likely to view games from their homes or local bars, they can still choose to be engaged with others who share their interest on social media. And those who are in some forms of fantasy leagues may develop their own sense of community. K.C. Mayer, Jr. Assistant Professor of Sport Management in the Health and Human Performance Department at Roanoke College What makes a good sports city? A good sports city requires several components. One area for a good sports city would be that there have to be fans to support the team. Outside of the top professional leagues, a majority of the revenue will come from gate-receipts and not the media/tv deals. So, there has to be a large enough customer-base and population to support the team through attendance. Also, these fans have to not only purchase the product, but be engaged with the team by following their on-field and off-field activities. Another area to consider would be the corporate presence and local buying power. Sport teams gain revenue from sponsors, so there has to be some corporate presence in the local environment for sponsorship opportunities. Without these partnerships, it can be difficult for a team to be financially viable. The residents in the area also need to have a certain level of discretionary income for spending on the sport entity. Also, less competitors for the discretionary income of sport fans may also help to make a sport city more viable in supporting a team. Another area that makes for a good sports city is that there are people in the city that embrace the team. This could come from a history, tradition, or passion for sport in the area, where there is a demand and affinity for sport. Concurrently, the teams must also embrace and support the city and people in the area, perhaps through community outreach and involvement with city initiatives. If the team is ingratiated into the community, and a fabric of the area, this will make for a better sports city. Another component for a good sports city is having a stadium/arena that makes for an enjoyable spectator experience. Stadium features that may impact this experience include concessions, restrooms, scoreboards, video boards, the sounds system, sight lines, parking, and other game day elements. What makes a good sports fan? From the perspective of an organization, a good sport fan is one that is loyal despite the team record, with discretionary income and free time. As such, their fanhood can support the team through good and bad times, from purchasing tickets to attend the games, to buying and wearing the team merchandise to show their support. Potential team sponsors also value the buying power of these fans. Further, fans that are engaged with the news and events of the team are desirable, as those that are highly identified with the team tend to be more loyal and less impacted by on-field performance. A team will also try to engage a sport fan early in their life. While the buying power of a young fan is not as high as older fans, there is value in their future buying power through the lifetime value of the customer. Moreover, the younger fan will typically attend with an additional family member/person to consume the sport product. To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? A team may reflect the locale they call in home in that, often, the team name, logo, colors, and mascot are somehow connected to a trait or historical component relevant to the city/area/region. Also, fans or the organization will often relate a certain quality in the team (e.g., toughness, creativity, etc.) that is also viewed as a characteristic of the people in the local society. However, given free agency, team relocations, advancements in the games and coaching, this is usually not the case or done intentionally by most teams during the construction of their rosters. To what extent are fantasy sports deemphasizing the role of place in fandom? Fantasy sports have altered how some view certain players and teams, and perhaps how they follow games scores and the sport. Some fans may now find themselves rooting more for specific players for a fantasy team than their actual hometown or favorite team to win. However, I am not sure the two areas are mutually exclusive in that you can root for the success of players to win a fantasy game, and still root for your team to win. Also, some fans may now watch a game not only for the enjoyment, escape, or chance to root for their team, but to follow along with their fantasy team players. Some may only watch to check in on their fantasy team, and others will follow the statistics of their fantasy players and still enjoy a game because they are a fan. The presence of fantasy sports has actually brought in some new people to the sport and following of the game. Overall, fantasy sports appear to be a good added dimension to the area of sport. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? There are a few strategies that can help a person to keep costs low when attending a game. One strategy is to utilize the secondary ticket market, such as StubHub, to purchase tickets. Often, people will post tickets to a game well below face-value because they cannot use them. Several variables may impact the price to change, both positively or negatively, such as the day of the game, opponent, and team performance to name a few. Cheaper tickets can be found on those non-prime games perhaps mid-week against an opponent that is not a rival or popular team. Also, while professional football tends to be the most expensive ticket, one can attend professional baseball or basketball at a relatively affordable price. Another strategy to lower costs when attending a game is to go in a large group. Typically, sport franchises will offer discounted tickets to large groups of people that attend a game together, which leads to them being seated together and perhaps other benefits (e.g., being recognized on the big screen during the game, access to a special area, etc.). Saving while attending a sporting contest can also be done through the purchase of a general admission or standing room only ticket. While the spectator may not have a specific seat at the game, the offer does come at a reduced rate. Some organizations are also starting to offer some “loaded” tickets where the ticket provides admission to a game plus a flat amount credit towards the purchase of concessions (e.g., Colorado Rockies provide a general admission ticket for $14, of which $6 is a concession credit). Some teams will provide special pricing nights where tickets and concessions are offered at reduced rates, so be sure to check the team schedule for promotional offers. There are also teams (e.g., Atlanta Falcons) that have deliberately decided to reduce concession costs, to make for a more affordable and enjoyable experience, particularly for families. However, it should be noted that in most sport pricing areas, if prices are lower it likely has been done to try to maximize profits with the full-cost of attendance, and for retention. In the case of sports, tickets are typically not sold at the optimal price in hopes of maximizing profits through other auxiliary areas, such as parking, merchandise, and concession purchases. To keep attendance costs lower, a fan could also explore the area of parking. Parking passes can also be purchased on these secondary ticket market platforms, and some teams are now offering more Uber friendly drop-off and pick-up zones (e.g., Miami professional sport teams). If that is not an option, typically parking in the lots further from the stadium offer lower pricing, and fans can walk or take a shuttle to the stadium. If the team allows tailgating before the game, this is an option to eat before the game and reduce costs from concession purchases. Be sure to check the bag and food policy, to see if, and what, food may be allowed to be brought in the stadium. What can the average fan learn about personal finance from following sports? Sports can help to demonstrate several lessons and concepts in math and personal finance. For instance, sports teams usually have to adhere to salary cap ceilings and floors, per league rules, and if the team exceeds the salary cap there are luxury taxes and/or penalties. These areas are relatable to maintaining a personal budget and having credit card limits, where an individual will face life penalties for overspending, as well as pay more for carrying a credit card balance. Typically, lack of adherence to a budget, or mishandling credit, will hurt a person’s credit score and future buying power. The same holds true for a sport franchise, as overspending may hurt the ability to sign future free agents to the team. A team may also try to build up an allotment of draft picks to make a move for a trade with another team. Similarly, an individual may take the same approach and save their money for a future purchase or investment. Further, player acquisitions in sports can be paralleled to personal finances. Teams must make player personnel decisions to select which players to invest in via the draft system, as well as retaining their players and resigning them to extensions, or to sign a free-agent with no current connection to the team. Contrastingly, teams most also make decisions on cutting certain players and no longer investing resources towards them. These areas share similarities to risks and rewards of personal financial investments. A person must make decisions on acquisitions of assets, and in which areas to focus their attention. Also, there are personal financial decisions on when to keep certain personal assets, as well as sell assets. Some of these decisions may be made by looking at past market performance and trends, as well as projecting future potential for performance and earnings. These also share similarities to sports, where a team will account for past on-field performance, and anticipate future performance while accounting for the team personnel, coaching changes, style of play changes, and rule alterations. Do publicly-funded sports stadiums make fiscal sense for cities? Some cities view their locale having a professional sport franchise as a symbol that their area is a “top” or “big time” city that legitimizes their place as a community in the perceptions of society. As such, cities will often provide public financial support for a stadium/arena to attract or retain their team(s). However, the evidence overwhelmingly indicates that the financials of publicly funded stadiums for sports teams or mega-events provide little to not economic benefit to the city. Others may cite that their city having a professional sport team increases the civic pride that people have for the city, and that this cost is worth keeping their team. Margaret L. Tudor Visiting Assistant Professor of Sport Management at University of Tampa What makes a good sports city? A good sports city is about several factors. Of course, the market is important. That is, what are the demographics and psychographics of the main population in the city and within the 5, 10, 25, etc. mile radius of the actual team? Additionally, the city has to have the means to have a sports team, which absolutely includes not only space for the stadium, arena, field, etc., but also easy access to and from that facility. Then, hospitality of the city needs to be able to support the sports team. This includes, but is not limited to, hotels/motels, transportation, bars/restaurants, other entertainment, banks/ATMs, etc. What makes a good sports fan? Sports fans are very unique. There are several different factors that could make a good sports fan. Franchises tend to look for the loyal sports fan who will support the team no matter what (wins, losses, etc.). Sports fans have a sense of identity with the team or individual. The quintessential sports fan that identifies the most with a team is the one that comes into work or meets up with friends and says something like “I can’t believe we lost,” or “Did you see how we did this weekend?” This fan identifies with the sports team and will have his/her emotions and conversations driven by how the team does and the feelings associated with that. In addition, the loyal sports fan will not only go to or watch the competitions, but will also partake in purchasing product extensions such as merchandise, apparel, or artifacts of the team. These loyal sports fans are what makes the brand of a team keep on going. To what extent do sports teams reflect the cities they call home? This really just depends on the area, what it means to the city, and how the target market has responded to the team. Of course, the sports team should and usually tries to embrace the city and adhere to the same norms and values of that city. Additionally, the most successful teams tend to ‘tap into’ the emotions and needs of the people who live in and around that city. They are the ones that do market research and have an open dialogue with their fans through several mediums and platforms (especially through social media). We are living in a time that individuals want to be heard and the successful sports teams make each individual feel like s/he is a part of their organization. Since attending a sporting event has never been more expensive (from tickets to parking to food), what are some tips to keep costs down when attending a game? It seems that it is absolutely worth taking advantage of ticket packages or pairing things together if you are planning to attend a game. Several organizations are now offering family packages or unique packages that bundle together tickets, parking, and food or merchandise. Another great tip would be to attend a game that is not during a peak time. For example, most baseball teams sell out their tickets for Friday or Saturday games, but tend to have more availabilities on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Some (not all) will lower prices for those such events. Also, several professional franchises have adopted the “mini-season ticket plans,” where you can pick several games throughout the season to purchase tickets at discounted prices. This makes it so you do not have to commit to an entire season, but you can still be a fan that attends several games. Of course, it is also important to recognize that prices have gone up for everything, so it is definitely worth having the experience if you can afford it!

Methodology

• Football Ranking (Overall) - Total Weight: 49 Percent
• Basketball Ranking (Overall) - Total Weight: 31 Percent
• Baseball Ranking (Overall) - Total Weight: 28 Percent
• Hockey Ranking (Overall) - Total Weight: 15 Percent
• Soccer Ranking (Overall) - Total Weight: 9 Percent

 

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