Cities without Professional Sports Teams/Venues (2015, living in, beach)

[KY_Transplant]

^^^LOL...yes, the Browns hardly qualify as a "Pro" team. 0-12 so far!

[_OT]

The most exciting, exhilarating and "lit" football games I've been to have mostly been College Football, and that's before AND after games. As for living in the Birmingham Metro Area, Tuscaloosa is an hour away, and Atlanta is an hour and a half; Baron's games seem interesting also.

[Jandrew5]

Originally Posted by KY_Transplant

So it seems that in lieu of professional sports teams, many people go to watch University based teams. It is just different for me because unless you attended or graduated from a University, you wouldn't ordinarily go to a sporting game. But it makes sense for the average joe to go to a university football game, if there are no pro teams for hours away.

Well at least with SC, while SC is becoming more transient, and while there's more colleges to choose from (I didn't go to Carolina or Clemson), most everyone in SC is still affiliated with either in some way or another.

So you may not be a fan or either per se, but you'll still go join in the festivities. I actually know one girl who is from New Jersey, yet every time I looked, she was at a Carolina game with friends. This situation actually isn't unique.

Those two just straight up rule. If you move to SC, you'll eventually make friends with someone affiliated with either, and you'll eventually find yourself watching one live at least once. Just how it is around these parts.

Generally, I see what you're saying though. For instance if I move to Raleigh, you're not going to find me at an NC State game for fun.

[jman07]

A lot of people follow the teams closest to their city and also local colleges and even high schools. High school football is HUGE where I grew up. Whole newscasts were devoted to it. It's definitely not he same as having good pro teams though.

[DSMHawk]

I lived in Des Moines for 6 years - no professional or major college sports. BUT, two things I absolutely loved while there:

1. Minor League Baseball (AAA I-Cubs). Compared to major league events, there is something awesome about deciding 10 minutes before a game starts that you want to go, buying an $8 ticket and having a fun, relaxing summer evening.
2. Minor league hockey - the Des Moines Bucks specifically - this is basically lowest level of professional hockey - high school kids essentially...but the games are incredibly intense and a a lot of fun. Also...$1 beers.

A lot of passionate college fans as well of U-Iowa (Go Hawks!) and Iowa State (boo!). Not to mention Des Moines is <5 hours from Kansas City, Minneapolis, Chicago and St. Louis...so there are lots of great weekend road-trip options to watch pro games.

[pnwguy2]

To answer your specific question many cities without pro teams do have major college athletic teams. Too many examples to list here, but the number of cities that have a lot of pro and major college athletic teams is pretty small. Of course, LA, The Bay Area, Chicago (to some extent), Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Miami, Detroit (Ann Arbor), Phoenix, Seattle, Twin Cities, Denver, Pittsburgh (all the above top25 markets) are cities that offer both.

I did a study of pro sports a few years ago. I only included NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. Some results:

Largest markets without all four sports: Houston (NHL), Seattle (NBA, NHL), San Diego (NBA, NHL)

Largest markets without the NFL: St. Louis, Orlando, Sacramento, Portland, Columbus

Largest markets without MLB: Orlando, Sacramento, Charlotte, Portland, Indianapolis

Largest markets without NHL: Houston, Seattle, San Diego, Cleveland, Orlando

Largest markets without NBA: Seattle, St. Louis, San Diego, Tampa, Pittsburgh

Largest markets with only one major pro team: Orlando, Sacramento, Portland, Columbus

Largest markets with zero major pro teams: Las Vegas, Virgina Beach/Norfolk

Smallest NFL market: Green Bay*, New Orleans

Smallest MLB market: Milwaukee

*does not include Milwaukee

Please note: Some of the markets may have shifted in population rank in the past few years.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

To answer your specific question many cities without pro teams do have major college athletic teams. Too many examples to list here, but the number of cities that have a lot of pro and major college athletic teams is pretty small. Of course, LA, The Bay Area, Chicago (to some extent), Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Miami, Detroit (Ann Arbor), Phoenix, Seattle, Twin Cities, Denver, Pittsburgh (all the above top25 markets) are cities that offer both.

I did a study of pro sports a few years ago. I only included NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. Some results:

Largest markets without all four sports: Houston (NHL), Seattle (NBA, NHL), San Diego (NBA, NHL)

Largest markets without the NFL: St. Louis, Orlando, Sacramento, Portland, Columbus

Largest markets without MLB: Orlando, Sacramento, Charlotte, Portland, Indianapolis

Largest markets without NHL: Houston, Seattle, San Diego, Cleveland, Orlando

Largest markets without NBA: Seattle, St. Louis, San Diego, Tampa, Pittsburgh

Largest markets with only one major pro team: Orlando, Sacramento, Portland, Columbus

Largest markets with zero major pro teams: Las Vegas, Virgina Beach/Norfolk

Smallest NFL market: Green Bay*, New Orleans

Smallest MLB market: Milwaukee

*does not include Milwaukee

Please note: Some of the markets may have shifted in population rank in the past few years.

And Vegas just got an NHL team.

[pnwguy2]

Whoops missed that one! This is an old list that I have been trying to keep current. Thanks for that addition. And I believe Vegas is still a possibility for the Raiders, despite their recent on field success.

[Spade]

I wonder if the Tidewater area could ever support a pro team.

[pistola916]

I'm sure a lot have a dislike for soccer, but I consider the MLS part of the major league pro league scene.