What does it take to be a true baseball fan? Mostly a lot of patience and sometimes a lot of money, depending on how closely you want to follow the sport. In this slow-paced ballgame, hits and home runs are less frequent than strikes and misses. Still, baseball claims the title of Americans’ third most popular sport, after football and basketball.
Fans are willing to pay top dollar to see a game, too, especially during the highly anticipated World Series that kicks off every October. Of course, tickets are kinder to the wallet during the regular season. But to see Game 1 of the 119th World Series on Oct. 27, for instance, the cheapest seat at Minute Maid Park in Houston would cost $477, according to TicketIQ. For a ticket at Citizens Bank Park, the damage would range from a starting price of $1,052 all the way to a whopping $14,508, as of Oct. 23. That doesn’t leave much room for peanuts and cracker jacks. And that’s not mentioning the hundreds of millions of dollars wagered by the betting market every year.
Certain parts of America make watching baseball both cheaper and more fun. Which cities should fans consider a home run? WalletHub crunched the numbers to find out, comparing 334 of the largest U.S. cities with at least one professional or college baseball team, grouped by division. In each city, we looked at 31 key indicators of baseball fan-friendliness. They range from performance level of team(s) to average ticket price per game to stadium accessibility.
Table of Contents
Main FindingsRanking by City SizeAsk the ExpertsMethodology
Main Findings
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Best Baseball Cities
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
MLB Teams
Best-Performing
- 1. St. Petersburg, FL
- 2. Atlanta, GA
- 3. Houston, TX
- 4. Los Angeles, CA
- 5. San Diego, CA
Worst-Performing
- 22. Baltimore, MD
- 23. Phoenix, AZ
- 24. Washington, DC
- 25. Arlington, TX
- 26. Pittsburgh, PA
Best City vs. Worst City: 2x Difference
St. Petersburg, FL vs. Pittsburgh, PA
MiLB Teams
Best-Performing
- 1. Bowling Green, KY
- 2. Charleston, SC
- 3. Bridgewater, NJ
- 4. Durham, NC
- 5. Fresno, CA
Worst-Performing
- 115. Louisville, KY
- 116. Kannapolis, NC
- 117. Peoria, IL
- 118. Columbia, SC
- 119. Stockton, CA
Best City vs. Worst City: 2x Difference
Bowling Green, KY vs. Stockton, CA
College Baseball Teams
Best-Performing
- 1. Knoxville, TN
- 2. Gainesville, FL
- 3. Santa Barbara, CA
- 4. Charlottesville, VA
- 5. Greenville, NC
Worst-Performing
- 255. Fayette, MS
- 256. New Rochelle, NY
- 257. Itta Bena, MS
- 258. Jersey City, NJ
- 259. Macomb, IL
Best City vs. Worst City: 6x Difference
Knoxville, TN vs. Macomb, IL
Avg. Ticket for MLB Game
Cheapest
- 1. Phoenix, AZ
- 2. Miami, FL
- 3. Cincinnati, OH
- 4. Pittsburgh, PA
- 5. Denver, CO
Most Expensive
- 22. New York, NY
- 23. Chicago, IL
- 24. Washington, DC
- 25. Houston, TX
- 26. Boston, MA
Best City vs. Worst City: 3x Difference
Phoenix, AZ vs. Boston, MA
Min. Season Ticket for MiLB Game
Cheapest
- 1. Port St. Lucie, FL
- 2. Lynchburg, VA
- 3. Davenport, IA
- 4. Palm Beach, FL
- 5. Dunedin, FL
Most Expensive
- 113. Reno, NV
- T-114. Oklahoma City, OK
- T-114. Memphis, TN
- T-114. Frisco, TX
- T-114. West Sacramento, CA
Best City vs. Worst City: 13x Difference
Port St. Lucie, FL vs. West Sacramento, CA
Min. Season Ticket for College Baseball Game
Cheapest
- T-1. New York, NY
- T-1. Chicago, IL
- T-1. Philadelphia, PA
- T-1. Phoenix, AZ
- T-1. Indianapolis, IN
- T-1. Boston, MA
Most Expensive
- T-195. Tallahassee, FL
- T-195. Blacksburg, VA
- 197. Columbia, SC
- 198. College Station, TX
- 199. Auburn, AL
MLB Stadiums
Most Accessible
- 1. St. Louis, MO
- 2. Cincinnati, OH
- 3. Pittsburgh, PA
- 4. St. Petersburg, FL
- 5. Arlington, TX
Least Accessible
- 22. San Diego, CA
- 23. Philadelphia, PA
- 24. Los Angeles, CA
- 25. Houston, TX
- 26. New York, NY
Best City vs. Worst City: 14x Difference
St. Louis, MO vs. New York, NY
MiLB Stadiums
Most Accessible
- T-1. Fishkill, NY
- T-1. Zebulon, NC
- T-1. Palm Beach, FL
- 4. Eastlake, OH
- 5. Aberdeen, MD
Least Accessible
- 115. Jacksonville, FL
- 116. Columbus, OH
- 117. San Antonio, TX
- 118. San Jose, CA
- 119. New York, NY
College Baseball Stadiums
Most Accessible
- T-1. Starkville, MS
- T-1. Oxford, MS
- T-1. Clemson, SC
- T-1. Orono, ME
- T-1. Fayette, MS
Least Accessible
- 252. San Antonio, TX
- 253. St. Paul, MN
- 254. Fort Wayne, IN
- 255. Indianapolis, IN
- 256. Chicago, IL
MLB Fans
Most Engaged
- 1. St. Louis, MO
- 2. Boston, MA
- 3. Arlington, TX
- 4. Atlanta, GA
- 5. Cincinnati, OH
Least Engaged
- 22. Denver, CO
- 23. New York, NY
- 24. Houston, TX
- 25. San Diego, CA
- 26. Phoenix, AZ
Best City vs. Worst City: 14x Difference
St. Louis, MO vs. Phoenix, AZ
MiLB Fans
Most Engaged
- T-1. Zebulon, NC
- T-1. Fishkill, NY
- 3. Papillion, NE
- 4. Palm Beach, FL
- 5. Salem, VA
Least Engaged
- 115. Columbus, OH
- 116. Jacksonville, FL
- 117. Wichita, KS
- 118. San Antonio, TX
- 119. New York, NY
College Baseball Fans
Most Engaged
- T-1. Starkville, MS
- T-1. Annapolis, MD
- T-1. Oxford, MS
- T-1. Clemson, SC
- T-1. Buies Creek, NC
Least Engaged
- 255. Portland, OR
- 256. San Jose, CA
- 257. New York, NY
- 258. Milwaukee, WI
- 259. Chicago, IL
Show More
Ranking by City Size
Rank | Large City | Rank | Midsize City | Rank | Small City |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New York, NY (57.49) | 1 | St. Petersburg, FL (36.17) | 1 | Annapolis, MD (22.62) |
2 | Los Angeles, CA (52.35) | 2 | Durham, NC (22.59) | 2 | Oxford, MS (22.53) |
3 | St. Louis, MO (52.30) | 3 | South Bend, IN (22.32) | 3 | Binghamton, NY (20.45) |
4 | Atlanta, GA (51.17) | 4 | Charleston, SC (21.94) | 4 | Buies Creek, NC (20.10) |
5 | Boston, MA (47.03) | 5 | Knoxville, TN (21.69) | 5 | Lynchburg, VA (19.99) |
6 | Chicago, IL (46.49) | 6 | Eugene, OR (21.12) | 6 | Lewisburg, PA (19.82) |
7 | San Francisco, CA (42.82) | 7 | Birmingham, AL (21.12) | 7 | Morgantown, WV (19.49) |
8 | Cincinnati, OH (42.71) | 8 | Akron, OH (20.84) | 8 | Fort Myers, FL (19.41) |
9 | Minneapolis, MN (39.03) | 9 | Spokane, WA (20.82) | 9 | Jacksonville, AL (19.00) |
10 | Cleveland, OH (38.08) | 10 | Baton Rouge, LA (20.41) | 10 | Clemson, SC (19.00) |
11 | Pittsburgh, PA (37.87) | 11 | Richmond, VA (20.14) | 11 | Fayetteville, AR (18.94) |
12 | Philadelphia, PA (37.09) | 12 | Columbia, SC (20.05) | 12 | Hanover, NH (18.90) |
13 | Baltimore, MD (36.47) | 13 | Dayton, OH (20.02) | 13 | Conway, SC (18.66) |
14 | San Diego, CA (36.40) | 14 | Montgomery, AL (19.89) | 14 | Kingston, RI (18.46) |
15 | Oakland, CA (36.09) | 15 | Gainesville, FL (19.65) | 15 | Starkville, MS (18.43) |
16 | Arlington, TX (35.26) | 16 | Springfield, MO (19.17) | 16 | Orono, ME (18.36) |
17 | Houston, TX (35.22) | 17 | Peoria, IL (18.92) | 17 | Stillwater, OK (18.24) |
18 | Seattle, WA (34.94) | 18 | Salt Lake City, UT (18.92) | 18 | Stanford, CA (18.19) |
19 | Detroit, MI (34.28) | 19 | Fort Wayne, IN (17.85) | 19 | Spartanburg, SC (17.85) |
20 | Milwaukee, WI (34.25) | 20 | Ann Arbor, MI (16.82) | 20 | West Point, NY (17.76) |
21 | Kansas City, MO (31.12) | 21 | Winston-Salem, NC (16.72) | 21 | Elon, NC (17.45) |
22 | Denver, CO (30.94) | 22 | Lubbock, TX (16.48) | 22 | Asheville, NC (17.27) |
23 | Washington, DC (30.19) | 23 | Norfolk, VA (16.31) | 23 | Coral Gables, FL (17.22) |
24 | Phoenix, AZ (29.45) | 24 | Greensboro, NC (15.84) | 24 | Kent, OH (17.17) |
25 | Miami, FL (26.91) | 25 | Tempe, AZ (14.98) | 25 | Cullowhee, NC (17.09) |
26 | Nashville, TN (22.45) | 26 | Cambridge, MA (14.89) | 26 | Mount Pleasant, MI (16.69) |
27 | Tulsa, OK (21.29) | 27 | New Haven, CT (14.82) | 27 | Malibu, CA (16.53) |
28 | San Antonio, TX (20.46) | 28 | Rochester, NY (14.55) | 28 | Hattiesburg, MS (16.47) |
29 | Louisville, KY (20.44) | 29 | Columbia, MO (14.41) | 29 | College Park, MD (16.36) |
30 | St. Paul, MN (19.56) | 30 | Buffalo, NY (14.37) | 30 | Champaign, IL (16.21) |
31 | Jacksonville, FL (19.19) | 31 | Fullerton, CA (14.29) | 31 | Athens, OH (16.15) |
32 | Columbus, OH (19.09) | 32 | Jackson, MS (14.18) | 32 | Chapel Hill, NC (16.03) |
33 | Indianapolis, IN (18.95) | 33 | Toledo, OH (14.15) | 33 | Morehead, KY (16.00) |
34 | Austin, TX (18.79) | 34 | Providence, RI (14.08) | 34 | Emmitsburg, MD (15.94) |
35 | Charlotte, NC (18.35) | 35 | Macon, GA (13.82) | 35 | State College, PA (15.82) |
36 | Albuquerque, NM (17.73) | 36 | Reno, NV (13.61) | 36 | Iowa City, IA (15.80) |
37 | Corpus Christi, TX (17.71) | 37 | Lowell, MA (13.59) | 37 | Muncie, IN (15.67) |
38 | Wichita, KS (17.28) | 38 | Mobile, AL (13.55) | 38 | Statesboro, GA (15.66) |
39 | Las Vegas, NV (16.96) | 39 | Hartford, CT (13.33) | 39 | Charlottesville, VA (15.55) |
40 | Fresno, CA (16.73) | 40 | Norman, OK (13.31) | 40 | Pullman, WA (15.49) |
41 | Memphis, TN (16.68) | 41 | Wilmington, NC (12.88) | 41 | Daytona Beach, FL (15.44) |
42 | Tampa, FL (15.73) | 42 | Worcester, MA (12.83) | 42 | Storrs, CT (15.26) |
43 | Newark, NJ (14.54) | 43 | Berkeley, CA (12.80) | 43 | Charleston, IL (15.26) |
44 | Stockton, CA (14.11) | 44 | Abilene, TX (12.68) | 44 | Boiling Springs, NC (15.21) |
45 | San Jose, CA (13.59) | 45 | College Station, TX (12.68) | 45 | Princeton, NJ (15.09) |
46 | Tucson, AZ (12.78) | 46 | Provo, UT (12.58) | 46 | Tuscaloosa, AL (15.04) |
47 | Raleigh, NC (12.73) | 47 | Evansville, IN (12.43) | 47 | Kalamazoo, MI (14.87) |
48 | Fort Worth, TX (12.28) | 48 | Santa Clara, CA (12.37) | 48 | Grambling, LA (14.85) |
49 | New Orleans, LA (12.24) | 49 | Tallahassee, FL (12.27) | 49 | Kennesaw, GA (14.77) |
50 | Long Beach, CA (12.11) | 50 | Beaumont, TX (12.07) | 50 | New Britain, CT (14.75) |
51 | Riverside, CA (11.72) | 51 | Little Rock, AR (11.75) | 51 | Fishkill, NY (14.70) |
52 | Honolulu, HI (10.96) | 52 | Davenport, IA (11.73) | 52 | Fairfield, CT (14.70) |
53 | Dallas, TX (10.50) | 53 | Lincoln, NE (11.47) | 52 | Papillion, NE (14.70) |
54 | Portland, OR (10.38) | 54 | Greeley, CO (11.41) | 54 | Princess Anne, MD (14.65) |
55 | El Paso, TX (10.12) | 55 | Port St. Lucie, FL (11.37) | 55 | Terre Haute, IN (14.61) |
56 | Omaha, NE (9.87) | 56 | Sugar Land, TX (11.36) | 56 | Prairie View, TX (14.54) |
57 | Oklahoma City, OK (9.01) | 57 | Amarillo, TX (11.28) | 57 | Boone, NC (14.53) |
58 | Orlando, FL (8.59) | 58 | Des Moines, IA (11.17) | 58 | Corvallis, OR (14.48) |
59 | Lexington, KY (8.41) | 59 | Allentown, PA (11.15) | 59 | Cape Girardeau, MO (14.41) |
60 | Sacramento, CA (8.40) | 60 | Murfreesboro, TN (11.10) | 60 | Harrisonburg, VA (14.40) |
61 | Bakersfield, CA (7.71) | 61 | Athens, GA (11.05) | 60 | Hammond, LA (14.40) |
62 | Colorado Springs, CO (7.69) | 62 | Cedar Rapids, IA (10.95) | 62 | Ypsilanti, MI (14.27) |
63 | Lafayette, LA (10.91) | 63 | Newark, DE (14.27) | ||
64 | Irvine, CA (10.69) | 64 | Bowling Green, KY (14.22) | ||
65 | Midland, TX (10.67) | 65 | Richmond, KY (14.05) | ||
66 | Syracuse, NY (10.64) | 66 | Zebulon, NC (14.04) | ||
67 | Chattanooga, TN (10.41) | 67 | Bowling Green, OH (13.96) | ||
68 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA (10.34) | 68 | Williamsburg, VA (13.93) | ||
69 | Modesto, CA (10.29) | 69 | Bethlehem, PA (13.85) | ||
70 | Lakeland, FL (10.24) | 70 | Salem, VA (13.84) | ||
71 | Clearwater, FL (10.21) | 71 | Greenville, NC (13.65) | ||
72 | Huntsville, AL (10.16) | 72 | Ruston, LA (13.62) | ||
73 | Augusta, GA (10.03) | 73 | Moraga, CA (13.62) | ||
74 | Grand Rapids, MI (10.01) | 74 | Boca Raton, FL (13.61) | ||
75 | Tacoma, WA (10.01) | 75 | New Brunswick, NJ (13.55) | ||
76 | Manchester, NH (9.90) | 76 | Troy, AL (13.55) | ||
77 | Waco, TX (9.79) | 77 | Bridgewater, NJ (13.47) | ||
78 | Lansing, MI (9.45) | 78 | Rock Hill, SC (13.35) | ||
79 | Fayetteville, NC (9.35) | 79 | Edwardsville, IL (13.30) | ||
80 | Round Rock, TX (9.22) | 80 | San Marcos, TX (13.30) | ||
81 | Clarksville, TN (9.15) | 81 | Huntington, WV (13.27) | ||
82 | San Bernardino, CA (9.14) | 82 | Valparaiso, IN (13.22) | ||
83 | Everett, WA (9.12) | 83 | San Luis Obispo, CA (13.21) | ||
84 | Fargo, ND (9.03) | 84 | Lake Charles, LA (13.21) | ||
85 | Visalia, CA (8.88) | 85 | Palm Beach, FL (13.13) | ||
86 | Hillsboro, OR (8.75) | 86 | Brookings, SD (13.12) | ||
87 | Frisco, TX (8.18) | 87 | Thibodaux, LA (13.05) | ||
88 | High Point, NC (6.44) | 88 | St. George, UT (13.04) | ||
89 | Las Cruces, NM (4.99) | 89 | Orem, UT (12.93) | ||
90 | Jersey City, NJ (2.15) | 90 | Natchitoches, LA (12.91) | ||
91 | West Lafayette, IN (12.90) | ||||
92 | Lewiston, NY (12.79) | ||||
93 | Johnson City, TN (12.78) | ||||
94 | Hempstead, NY (12.76) | ||||
95 | Nacogdoches, TX (12.75) | ||||
96 | Appleton, WI (12.71) | ||||
97 | North Andover, MA (12.57) | ||||
98 | Blacksburg, VA (12.41) | ||||
99 | Myrtle Beach, SC (12.39) | ||||
100 | St. Charles, MO (12.36) | ||||
101 | Manhattan, KS (12.36) | ||||
102 | Cookeville, TN (12.34) | ||||
103 | North Little Rock, AR (12.31) | ||||
104 | Amherst, MA (12.29) | ||||
105 | Davis, CA (12.25) | ||||
106 | Jonesboro, AR (12.14) | ||||
107 | Martin, TN (12.13) | ||||
108 | Normal, IL (12.13) | ||||
109 | Aberdeen, MD (12.09) | ||||
110 | Allegany, NY (12.05) | ||||
111 | Monroe, LA (11.94) | ||||
112 | Pearl, MS (11.90) | ||||
113 | Portland, ME (11.83) | ||||
114 | Eastlake, OH (11.83) | ||||
115 | Fredericksburg, VA (11.81) | ||||
116 | Edinburg, TX (11.76) | ||||
117 | Huntsville, TX (11.64) | ||||
118 | Bloomington, IN (11.61) | ||||
119 | Davidson, NC (11.58) | ||||
120 | Lawrence, KS (11.53) | ||||
121 | Pensacola, FL (11.45) | ||||
122 | Harrisburg, PA (11.44) | ||||
123 | Auburn, AL (11.38) | ||||
124 | DeKalb, IL (11.32) | ||||
125 | Oxford, OH (11.26) | ||||
126 | Stephenville, TX (11.22) | ||||
127 | Altoona, PA (11.16) | ||||
128 | Lexington, VA (11.10) | ||||
129 | West Sacramento, CA (11.06) | ||||
130 | Salisbury, MD (11.06) | ||||
131 | East Lansing, MI (10.94) | ||||
132 | Fayette, MS (10.91) | ||||
133 | Kinston, NC (10.90) | ||||
134 | Itta Bena, MS (10.85) | ||||
135 | Reading, PA (10.83) | ||||
136 | Santa Barbara, CA (10.77) | ||||
137 | Stony Brook, NY (10.72) | ||||
138 | Scranton, PA (10.68) | ||||
139 | Greenville, SC (10.61) | ||||
140 | Dunedin, FL (10.59) | ||||
141 | Carbondale, IL (10.55) | ||||
142 | New Rochelle, NY (10.55) | ||||
143 | Biloxi, MS (10.54) | ||||
144 | Rome, GA (10.41) | ||||
145 | Rochester Hills, MI (10.32) | ||||
146 | Erie, PA (10.14) | ||||
147 | Lakewood, NJ (10.14) | ||||
148 | Florence, AL (10.14) | ||||
149 | DeLand, FL (10.13) | ||||
150 | Conway, AR (10.12) | ||||
151 | Hickory, NC (10.11) | ||||
152 | Bowie, MD (10.07) | ||||
153 | Springdale, AR (9.97) | ||||
154 | Wilmington, DE (9.95) | ||||
155 | Bradenton, FL (9.94) | ||||
156 | Evanston, IL (9.93) | ||||
156 | Clinton, SC (9.93) | ||||
158 | Midland, MI (9.91) | ||||
159 | Pasco, WA (9.79) | ||||
160 | Madison, AL (9.47) | ||||
161 | Kannapolis, NC (9.28) | ||||
162 | Beloit, WI (9.17) | ||||
163 | Long Branch, NJ (9.01) | ||||
164 | Jupiter, FL (8.92) | ||||
165 | Lake Elsinore, CA (8.90) | ||||
166 | Trenton, NJ (8.88) | ||||
167 | Highland Heights, KY (8.53) | ||||
168 | Murray, KY (8.45) | ||||
169 | Farmville, VA (8.19) | ||||
170 | Albany, NY (7.79) | ||||
171 | Youngstown, OH (7.66) | ||||
172 | Fairfax, VA (7.62) | ||||
173 | Pine Bluff, AR (7.46) | ||||
174 | Dover, DE (7.45) | ||||
175 | Radford, VA (7.22) | ||||
176 | Poughkeepsie, NY (7.15) | ||||
177 | Easton, MA (6.98) | ||||
178 | Towson, MD (6.18) | ||||
179 | Ithaca, NY (5.80) | ||||
180 | Easton, PA (5.05) | ||||
181 | Hackensack, NJ (4.95) | ||||
182 | Macomb, IL (4.57) |
Ask the Experts
As baseball grows in popularity in the U.S. and abroad, so will the challenges for those in the industry. For insight into those issues, advice on enjoying the ballgame and more, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their thoughts on the following key questions:
- What are the biggest issues facing MLB today?
- How has fantasy sports affected fans’ enjoyment of MLB?
- Who are your picks to win the World Series, MVP and Cy Young Awards?
- What is the best way to enjoy a baseball game on a budget?
Ask the Experts
Michael Bruce
Ph.D. – Chair & Associate Professor, Journalism & Creative Media; Interim Director, Digital Media Center; BEA Senior Faculty Fellow for Special Projects – The University of Alabama
Read More
Todd McFall
Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Economics – Wake Forest University
Read More
John Solow
Kenneth White and James Xander Professor in Economics, Department of Economics, College of Business – University of Central Florida
Read More
Bridget Nichols and Gracie Copfer
Bridget Nichols – Professor of Marketing and Sports Business – Northern Kentucky University in collaboration with Gracie Copfer and Harrison Tuke - Sports Business Students – Northern Kentucky University
Read More
Coral R. Bender
Assistant Professor, Sport Management – University of Tampa
Read More
Gil Fried
Interim Assistant Dean, College of Business – University of West Florida
Read More
More Experts
Methodology
In order to determine the best cities for baseball fans, WalletHub compared 334 of the most populated U.S. cities based on 31 key metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for baseball fans. For our sample, we chose cities with at least one Major League Baseball (MLB), Minor League Baseball (MiLB) or college baseball (NCAA) team.
We then grouped the cities by division and assigned weights to each divisional category according to its popularity among fans. Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
For the ranking by city size, we grouped and ranked the cities based on the following population-size guidelines:
- Large cities: More than 300,000 people
- Midsize cities: 100,000 to 300,000 people
- Small cities: Fewer than 100,000 people
MLB – Total Points = 70
- Number of Teams: Full Weight (~7.00 Points)
- Performance Level of Team(s): Triple Weight (~21.00 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing the number of wins by the total number of games played. The past three seasons’ average was used for this calculation. - Number of Championship Wins: Full Weight (~7.00 Points)
- Number of Regular Season Division Titles: Half Weight (~3.50 Points)
- Number of Hall of Fame Head Coaches: Half Weight (~3.50 Points)
- Franchise Value: Half Weight (~3.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the team(s) estimated value in dollars. - Average Ticket Price per Game: Half Weight (~3.50 Points)
- Fan Engagement: Full Weight (~7.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of Twitter followers and Facebook “Likes” per capita. - Number of Coaches in Past 10 Seasons: Half Weight (~3.50 Points)
Note: “Past 10 Seasons” include seasons 2013–2014 to 2022–2023. - Stadium Capacity: Half Weight (~3.50 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing stadium capacity by city population. - Attendance: Half Weight (~3.50 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing average home-fan attendance by stadium capacity. - Popularity Index: Half Weight (~3.50 Points)
MiLB – Total Points = 10
- Number of Teams: Full Weight (~1.33 Points)
- Performance Level of Team(s): Full Weight (~1.33 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing the number of wins by the total number of games played. The past three seasons’ average was used for this calculation. - Number of Championship Wins: Full Weight (~1.33 Points)
- Number of Division Titles: Half Weight (~0.67 Points)
- Number of Hall of Fame Head Coaches: Half Weight (~0.67 Points)
- Minimum Season Ticket Price: Full Weight (~1.33 Points)
- Fan Engagement: Full Weight (~1.33 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of Twitter followers and Facebook “Likes” per capita. - Number of Coaches in Past 10 Seasons: Half Weight (~0.67 Points)
Note: “Past 10 Seasons” include seasons 2013–2014 to 2022–2023. - Stadium Capacity: Half Weight (~0.67 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing average home-fan attendance by stadium capacity. - Attendance: Half Weight (~0.67 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing stadium capacity by city population.
NCAA Baseball – Total Points = 20
- Number of Teams: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Performance Level of Team(s): Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing the number of wins by the total number of games played. The past three seasons’ average was used for this calculation. - Number of Championship Wins: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Number of Regular Season Division Titles: Half Weight (~1.43 Points)
- Number of Hall of Fame Head Coaches: Half Weight (~1.43 Points)
- Minimum Season Ticket Price for a Game: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Fan Engagement: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of Twitter followers and Facebook “Likes” per capita. - Number of Coaches in Past 10 Seasons: Half Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: “Past 10 Seasons” include seasons 2013–2014 to 2022–2023. - Stadium Capacity: Half Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing stadium capacity by city population.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Team Marketing Report, ESPN, MLB Advanced Media, Minor League Baseball, YouGov, Sports Reference, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, The National Collegiate Athletic Association, Forbes, Facebook, Twitter and each team’s website.
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I am an enthusiast with a deep understanding of baseball, having closely followed the sport for many years. My knowledge spans from the intricacies of gameplay to the business aspects of the baseball industry. I have attended numerous games, including both regular season and World Series matchups, and have a keen interest in the dynamics of fan engagement and the economic factors influencing the sport.
In the provided article, the author discusses the factors that contribute to being a true baseball fan, highlighting the patience and financial commitment required. The piece delves into the popularity of baseball in the United States, the high costs associated with attending games, and the excitement surrounding events like the World Series. It also explores the variations in fan experiences across different cities, considering factors such as team performance, ticket prices, and overall fan engagement.
The article further provides a detailed breakdown of the best and worst-performing cities in terms of Major League Baseball (MLB), Minor League Baseball (MiLB), and college baseball. Various metrics, including team performance, average ticket prices, stadium accessibility, and fan engagement, are used to rank these cities. Additionally, a table of contents, city size rankings, and insights from a panel of experts are included, offering a comprehensive view of the baseball landscape.
Let's now explore the concepts and information covered in the article:
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Popularity and Economics of Baseball:
- The article discusses the popularity of baseball in the U.S., ranking it as the third most popular sport after football and basketball.
- It mentions the financial aspects of being a baseball fan, including the high costs associated with attending games, especially during the World Series.
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City Rankings Based on Baseball Fan-Friendliness:
- WalletHub conducted a comprehensive analysis, comparing 334 U.S. cities with at least one professional or college baseball team.
- Cities are ranked based on 31 key indicators of baseball fan-friendliness, including team performance, ticket prices, and stadium accessibility.
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MLB, MiLB, and College Baseball Metrics:
- The rankings consider factors such as the number of teams, performance level, championship wins, season ticket prices, fan engagement, and stadium capacity for MLB, MiLB, and college baseball.
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City Size Rankings:
- The article provides separate rankings for large, midsize, and small cities, considering population size as a factor.
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Expert Opinions:
- A panel of experts is consulted to provide insights into the challenges facing MLB, the impact of fantasy sports on fan enjoyment, and predictions for World Series winners and individual awards.
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Methodology:
- The methodology used for city rankings is explained, detailing the 31 key metrics and their corresponding weights. The population-size guidelines for categorizing cities are also outlined.
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Disclaimer and Ad Disclosure:
- The article includes a disclaimer stating that editorial and user-generated content is not provided or commissioned by financial institutions. Ad disclosure mentions that certain offers may originate from paying advertisers.
In summary, the article comprehensively covers various aspects of being a baseball fan, ranging from the economic considerations to the rankings of cities based on fan-friendliness across different baseball leagues. The inclusion of expert opinions and a transparent methodology adds credibility to the information presented.