25. Austin
Austin isn’t home to any professional sports cities, which definitely hampers its position on this list. Austin is a large enough city that it could support a franchise, estimated to be just outside the top 10 in terms of population. That’s bigger than a lot of other cities on this list, though the metropolitan area probably isn’t as competitive.
Austin is also hurt by the fact that it is in a large state with other larger cities, like San Antonio, Houston and Dallas that all are home to professional sports franchises.
That doesn’t mean Austin isn’t a great sports town. The city is home to the University of Texas which boasts a rich sports history, winning a college football championship in 2005 and having stars in their basketball program like Kevin Durant. While those respective franchises’ success might have taken a dip, it still creates an incredible culture and environment on top of it.
In addition to that college program, one of the largest and most profitable in the country, they’re also host to some other major sporting events.
Every year Formula 1 Racing comes to town at the Circuit of Americas track. That facility has also become the host to the Summer X-Games ever year, an event that not only brings a variety of events, including some downtown in front of the capital, but musical acts like Kanye West and Nicki Minaj.
Next: 24. Las Vegas