Ranking the best sports cities in the United States
By Mike Dyce
23. Charlotte
Charlotte is home to a couple of major sports franchises, the Panthers (NFL) and Hornets (NBA). We’ll even throw in the Carolina Hurricanes even though they’re a few hours away in Raleigh, a team that won a Stanley Cup in 2006.
Aside from the Panthers brief stint of success with Cam Newton and the Hornets never-ending effort to climb into contention, the city has more to offer sports fans than that. The Hornets have Michael Jordan as well, and will host the 2017 NBA All-Star game.
First and foremost might be Charlotte Motor Speedway, the site of this year’s All-Star Race. It is also a stop on the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. A lot of NASCAR royalty calls the area home as well.
Add in that Duke and North Carolina are within driving distance, and you have some of the best college basketball and one of the biggest rivalries in your backyard. Not to mention, North Carolina State, Clemson and the University of South Carolina are all within ear shot as well.
Given that cauldron of bit time colleges in the area, you can only imagine the sports bar debates that rage on.
The Carolinas are also known for their barbecue, so the tailgating in Charlotte has to be among the best in the country.
Next: 22. Washington D.C.