Fansided

Ranking the 30 best sports cities in America for 2016

By Charles Rahrig V

Jun 22, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Fans walk on the Hope Memorial Bridge after the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA championship parade in downtown Cleveland. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Fans walk on the Hope Memorial Bridge after the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA championship parade in downtown Cleveland. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
24 of 31
Next
Dec 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; A general view of Ford Field before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; A general view of Ford Field before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Detroit, Michigan

If there’s one city that’s all about tradition and pride, it’s Detroit. When it comes to college athletics, the city — Michigan writ large, really — is thoroughly divided between Michigan in Ann Arbor and Michigan State in East Lansing. Both schools have rich pedigrees and deep championship histories, and are as much apart of the overall Detroit sports scene as any of the city’s pro teams.

In the NFL, the Detroit Lions have long struggled for relevance. They do, however, boast a deeply passionate fan base — one that has stayed loyal through some of the worst stretches in modern sports history.

Ford Field, where the Lions play their home games, is a truly beautiful structure, and has hosted both a Super Bowl (in 2006) and a Final Four (2009), as well as numerous bowl games, high-school championships, and concerts.

The Detroit Pistons made their return to the NBA Playoffs this past season, re-establishing themselves as a forced to be reckoned with. Indeed, the Pistons have notched three championships in total, helping establish the team as exemplars of gritty, defense-first tenacity.

The Tigers, meanwhile, are coming off of a great decade of their own, with two appearances in the World Series (in 2006 and 2012).

However, when it comes to professional sports in Detroit, the Red Wings are the prize of the city. Indeed, there’s a reason Detroit is known as Hockey Town U.S.A., with the franchise’s 25-year playoff streak proof positive that the Original Six staple is never far from contention.

Next: 7. Dallas