Ranking the 30 best sports cities in America for 2016

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Sep 13, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A general view of the stadium prior to the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Dallas, Texas

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that more than applies to sports fandom in Dallas. Simply put, the people in Texas love their teams, with a fervor and sense of history that rivals any fanbase anywhere.

The Dallas Cowboys have won five Super Bowls — tied with the San Francisco 49ers for second most all time — while boasting the single biggest stadium in the NFL. Long known as America’s team (much to the chagrin of many), the Cowboys are more than a team; they’re a brand, one that has become as recognizable as Mickey Mouse or McDonald’s.

AT&T Stadium — better known as Jerry World to some — allows Dallas to host all sorts of events, from Super Bowls to Final Fours to National Championships, not to mention big-name concerts. In short, it’s a stadium that epitomizes the gleaming, big-dreams gaudiness of the city itself.

As for the city’s other pro sports sports, the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers are all organizations that pride themselves on winning. The Mavericks have one of the best owners in all of sports in Mark Cuban, who helped deliver Dallas its first-ever NBA championship in 2011.

And while Dallas doesn’t boast many big-time college programs, its proximity to other Texas powerhouses — including Austin — makes it a hotbed of fan passions and loyalties.

Next: 6. Los Angeles