Best Cities for Sports Fans

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10. Denver
> Number of teams: 4
> Championships in the last 50 years: 5
> Average win percentage: 52.4%
> Playoff appearances in the last 50 years: 65
> Last championship: Denver Broncos, 2015

The Denver area has had a team in all four major sports only since the ’90s. The Colorado Rockies played their first season in 1993, and the Colorado Avalanche moved from Quebec in 1995. The Rockies have made the World Series just once, when they were swept by the Red Sox in 2007. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 1996 — their first season in Colorado. Many of the same players were still on the roster when they won another Cup in 2001. But the real pride and joy of Denver sports is clearly the Broncos. The team lost four Super Bowls before John Elway and his teammates were finally able to win back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998. Peyton Manning then finished his career by helping Von Miller and the Broncos defense win Super Bowl 50.

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9. Oakland
> Number of teams: 3
> Championships in the last 50 years: 10
> Average win percentage: 50.8%
> Playoff appearances in the last 50 years: 58
> Last championship: Golden State Warriors, 2018

Oakland has three professional sports teams, but not for long. The Raiders are leaving Oakland for the second time, departing for Las Vegas some time after 2020. The Warriors, which are also leaving the city, are at least staying in the Bay Area, planning to play in San Francisco starting in 2019. The Warriors will be leaving at the height of their dominance, winning three of the last four NBA titles — and they seem poised to win another. The Raiders also left during their best years. They won the Super Bowl after the 1976 and 1980 seasons, then left for Los Angeles in 1982. Soon, the only team left will be the Athletics of the MLB. The As last won a World Series in 1989.

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8. Dallas
> Number of teams: 4
> Championships in the last 50 years: 7
> Average win percentage: 54.3%
> Playoff appearances in the last 50 years: 73
> Last championship: Dallas Mavericks, 2011

The best team from Dallas is undoubtedly the Cowboys. America’s Team won two Super Bowls in the 1970s with coach Tom Landry, then picked up three more in the 1990s with the legendary triplets — Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin — leading the offense. Dallas sports fans have gotten to cheer on many other all-time greats. Dirk Nowitzki made the Dallas Mavericks perennial Western Conference contenders and guided the franchise to its only title in 2011. Mike Modano led the Dallas Stars to their only title in 1999. He would later become the all-time greatest American-born scorer in NHL history. The Texas Rangers are the only Dallas-area team to never win a championship, though they did come within one strike of beating the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2011 World Series.

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7. Philadelphia
> Number of teams: 4
> Championships in the last 50 years: 6
> Average win percentage: 51.5%
> Playoff appearances in the last 50 years: 101
> Last championship: Philadelphia Eagles, 2017

After decades of futility, the Philadelphia Eagles won their first Super Bowl in 2017. Thanks to the outstanding performance of backup quarterback Nick Foles and some gutsy play calling from coach Doug Petersen, the Eagles beat the New England Patriots in one of the wildest Super Bowls ever. Now each of Philadelphia’s four major sports teams has won a championship in the past 50 years. Previously, the Phillies won the World Series in 2008 and 1980, the 76ers won the NBA Championship in 1982, and the Flyers won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975.

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6. Detroit
> Number of teams: 4
> Championships in the last 50 years: 9
> Average win percentage: 48.7%
> Playoff appearances in the last 50 years: 89
> Last championship: Detroit Red Wings, 2008

Though the Detroit Lions have been historically terrible, winning just one playoff game in the Super Bowl era, the other three teams in Detroit have made up for it. The Tigers have captured two World Series crowns in the last 50 years, in 1968 and 1984. The “Bad Boy” Pistons won consecutive NBA Finals in 1989 and 1990. The 2004 Pistons shocked the NBA, using their smothering defense to upset the Los Angeles Lakers and win another title. Detroit’s best team in recent history, however, is undoubtedly the Red Wings. The Wings snapped a 42-year Stanley Cup drought in 1997, then followed it up with championships in 1998, 2002, and 2008.