Ranking the best sports cities in the United States

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Jun 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks players pose for a team photo with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in game six of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Chicago

Chicago is a city rich in sports history, and one that is ever growing. The city is host to five teams in the four major sports: the Cubs and White Sox in MLB, the Bears (NFL), Bulls (NBA) and Blackhawks (NHL).

The Blackhawks have been carrying the championship winning mentality as of late, winning their third Stanley Cup in six seasons in 2015. The White Sox won a World Series in 2005 and the Cubs challenged for an NL Pennant a couple years earlier, and look poised to rebound with a strong team in 2015.

The Bears might be struggling now, but they’ve played in a Super Bowl, losing to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. The Chicago Bulls have also been contenders with Derrick Rose leading the team into a new era of success post-Michael Jordan.

Aside from those major professional sports, Chicago is host to various other sporting events. The UFC and WWE routinely stop in the Windy City. UFC held a bantamweight championship bout between T.J. Dillashaw and Renan Barao in July of 2015.

The NFL Draft also moved from New York City to Chicago, leaving Radio City Music Hall for the first time in decades. Chicago drew one of the largest crowds to the NFL Draft with their fan village in Grant Park right across from the theater.

Chicago has also become the home of soccer in the United States. The city hosted the Gold Cup Final and saw the men’s team raise the trophy. Since then they’ve hosted other Gold Cup matches, most recently Mexico in July of 2015. They’ve also routinely hosted International Champions Cup games at Soldier Field with major clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.

Grant Park became the headquarters for fans watching the USMNT during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, large crowds being shown on television. That trend continued in Lincoln Park during the USWNT’s run in the 2015 World Cup in Canada.

Chicago also hosts the first race of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Chase at the Chicagoland Speedway.

Then let’s talk venues. Is there anything more picturesque than Wrigley Field in the summer, or Soldier Field on Lake Michigan in September? Not to mention, walking out of the United Center and seeing the famous Michael Jordan statue with Chicago’s skyline as back drop.

Next: 1. Boston

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