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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May 2, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; A general view as Floyd Mayweather (black/gold trunks) and Manny Pacquiao (yellow/red trunks) box during their world welterweight championship bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mayweather won via unanimous decsion. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; A general view as Floyd Mayweather (black/gold trunks) and Manny Pacquiao (yellow/red trunks) box during their world welterweight championship bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mayweather won via unanimous decsion. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

24. Las Vegas

Las Vegas is home to no professional sports franchises in the four major North American sports. So how does Las Vegas crack this list?

Easy, their steady slew of big sporting events.

In 2015 alone, Las Vegas has hosted one of the biggest and most hyped boxing fights ever when Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao finally squared off. Forget the fact that the fight didn’t live up to some people’s expectations, the spectacle was still there.

A little over two months later the same Las Vegas venue, the MGM Grand Garden Arena, hosted UFC 189. It was host of the mega-hyped fight between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor for the UFC featherweight title. Aldo was injured and Chad Mendes was subbed in for the interim featherweight belt, and the UFC’s gate actually increased. The card went down as one of the best in recent history, possibly all-time.

Las Vegas routinely hosts both big boxing and UFC fights on a steady basis, but it isn’t limited to just combat sports. They also have UNLV, a solid college basketball program that won a championship in 1990. The city also is home to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which is home to several NASCAR races and at one point in time, IndyCar as well.

The NBA also holds their Summer League in Las Vegas. In 2007 the NBA hosted their All-Star game there, and the city isn’t even home to an NBA franchise.

But primarily Las Vegas is on this list for their big fight culture, which creates an atmosphere like none other.

Next: 23. Charlotte

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