Ranking the best sports cities in the United States
By Mike Dyce
9. Miami
Miami has a rich sports history even if the Dolphins haven’t lived up to it as of late. Aside from the Dolphins (NFL), Miami is home to the Marlins (MLB), Heat (NBA), and Panthers (NHL).
The Heat have been particularly good, winning three NBA Titles since the turn of the millennium and going to four consecutive NBA Finals prior to last season that netted them two championships. That’s right, LeBron James left his home town to come to South Beach and win titles, that speaks volumes to the city’s sports culture.
Aside from that, the Marlins won a World Series about 12 years ago and have a shiny new stadium.
Miami is also a big sporting event town. Miami has hosted 10 Super Bowls, most recently in 2007 and 2010. One of those Super Bowls gifted us Prince singing Purple Rain… in the rain.
Homestead-Miami Speedway also hosts the final race of the NASCAR season and sees a champion crowned.
Moving on to college sports, Miami is home to the Hurricanes. While they haven’t replicated the success of the early 2000s lately, they’re still a major program. The city also hosts one of college football’s most prestigious games, the Orange Bowl. It was also on the rotation of cities that hosted the national championship game before the College Football Playoff came into effect and broke that four city cycle up.
The Rock and John Cena also faced off in the main event of WrestleMania 28 in Miami, an event billed as “once in a lifetime.”
Next: 8. New Orleans