Fansided

Ranking the best sports cities in the United States

By Mike Dyce

Jun 18, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling (33) kisses the Stanley Cup up during the 2015 Stanley Cup championship rally at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling (33) kisses the Stanley Cup up during the 2015 Stanley Cup championship rally at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; A general view of AT&T Stadium before the championship game of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament between the Connecticut Huskies and Kentucky Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; A general view of AT&T Stadium before the championship game of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament between the Connecticut Huskies and Kentucky Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Dallas

Dallas hosts a major sports franchise in each of the four major sports: Mavericks (NBA), Cowboys (NFL), Stars (NHL) and Rangers (MLB). The city thoug hasn’t necessarily been synonymous with winning or bringing a plethora of championships home on the professional sports scene, definitely not on the caliber of the 90s when the Cowboys won three Super Bowls and the Stars won a Stanley Cup.

The millennium started with a Western Conference title for the Dallas Stars, and the Dallas Mavericks would go to two NBA Finals and defeat the super Miami Heat team led by LeBron James in 2011. The Rangers reached two World Series for the first time ever. The Cowboys have seen success during the Tony Romo era and could’ve gone farther if it weren’t for a controversial call in the playoffs last season.

That being said, Dallas is a great sports city for reasons beyond the success of their professional sports franchises.

Dallas, or rather their metropolitan area, is also host to Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University. TCU won a Rose Bowl recently, and were the co-Big 12 Champions last season. SMU saw a resurgence in their football program under the guidance of June Jones and in their basketball program under the legendary Larry Brown.

Dallas is also home to Texas Motor Speedway, host to NASCAR and IndyCar events. Every October the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners square off in one of college football’s best rivalry games at the Cotton Bowl on the Texas State Fairgrounds. That game provides an atmosphere unseen anywhere else in the country.

AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, has become host to a slew of big events as well. WrestleMania 32 will take place there. The stadium has hosted boxing events, including those of superstar Manny Pacquiao to crowds of around 50,000 people. The stadium has also played host to the Super Bowl, the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship Game and the Final Four. The Gold Cup has played knockout round games at the stadium as well.

Every fall AT&T Stadium hosts college football clashes between big national programs. The metropolitan area is also host to multiple college foobtall bowl games, anchored by the Cotton Bowl.

The UFC has also become a regular visitor to the American Airlines Arena, putting on a pay-per-view event anchored by championship bouts regularly in March.

Next: 2. Chicago

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