Sports 6
Which cities are the greatest sports cities?
For the sake of this list, it will initially only compile championships from the National Football League (since 1920), National Basketball Association (since 1947), Major League Baseball (since 1903), and National Hockey League (since 1917). Later Major League Soccer and the professional women’s sports will be added.
NFL: the wealthiest professional sports league in the world
The NFL is composed of 32 teams. Currently, in the regular season, each team plays 20 games (3 preseason and 17 regular season). Then the playoffs start and ends with the Super Bowl in February. From 1920-1931 no championship game was held. Championships were awarded based on final season standings. In 1932, one playoff game was held to break a tie in standings. From 1933 – 1965 the NFL held a championship game. And then starting in 1966 the Super Bowl was held. Teams that are no longer playing will be omitted from this list.
NBA: second wealthiest professional sports league in the world.
The NBA is composed of 30 teams (29 in the USA and 1 in Canada). This league was created in 1949 with the merger of the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League. The NBA later adopted the history of the Basketball Association of America’s history and founding in 1946 as its own. In 1976, the NBA and the American Basketball Association merged. Currently, in the regular season, each team plays 82 games. Then the playoffs start and ends with the NBA Finals in June annually.
MLB: third wealthiest professional sports league in the world
The MLB is composed of 30 teams (29 in the USA and 1 in Canada) divided between the National League (which formed in 1876) and the American League (which formed in 1901). In 1903, the two leagues cemented their cooperation making MLB the oldest major professional sports league in the world. Currently, in the regular season, each team plays 162 games. Then the playoffs start which culminates to the World Series, which was first played in 1903.
NHL: fifth wealthiest professional sports league in the world (the Premier League is fourth)
The NHL is composed of 32 teams (25 in the USA and 7 in Canada). It was organized in 1917 after its predecessor organization, the National Hockey Association, suspended all operations. Currently, in the regular season, each team plays 82 games. Then the playoffs start which leads to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
New York, NY (54)
NFL: 8-14 as the Giants (most appearances in the NFL championship game or being runner up);
1-0 as the Jets
NBA: 2-6 as the Knickerbockers
MLB: 27-14 as the Yankees (most World Series championships); 1-8 as Brooklyn (mostly the
Brooklyn Dodgers later the team moved to Los Angeles); 5-10 as the New York Giants (later moved to
San Francisco); 2-3 as the New York Mets
NHL: 4 Stanley Cups as the Rangers; 4 Stanley Cups as the Islanders
Boston, MA (40)
NFL: 6-5 as the New England Patriots
NBA: 18-5 as the Celtics (most NBA championships)
MLB: 9-4 as the Red Sox; 1-1 as the Boston Braves (now known as the Atlanta Braves)
NHL: 6 Stanley Cups as the Bruins
Chicago, Illinois (29)
NFL: 9-10 as the Bears; 2-1 as the Chicago Cardinals
NBA: 6-0 as the Bulls
MLB: 3-8 as the Cubs; 3-2 as the White Sox
NHL: 6 Stanley Cups as the Blackhawks
Los Angeles, CA (24)
NFL: 2-6 as the Los Angeles Rams; 1-0 as the Los Angeles Raiders
NBA: 12-14 as the Lakers (most NBA championship appearances)
MLB: 7-6 as the Los Angeles Dodgers
NHL: 2 Stanley Cups as the Kings
Montreal, QC (24)
NHL: 24 Stanley Cups as the Canadiens (most Stanley Cups)
Detroit, MI (22)
NFL: 4-2 as the Lions
NBA: 3-4 (0-2 as the Fort Wayne Pistons) as the Pistons
MLB: 4-7 as the Tigers
NHL: 11 Stanley Cups as the Red Wings
Pittsburgh, PA (16)
NFL: 6-2 as the Steelers
MLB: 5-2 as the Pirates
NHL: 5 Stanley Cups as the Penguins
Toronto, ON (16)
NBA: 1-0 as the Raptors
MLB: 2-0 as the Blue Jays
NHL: 13 Stanley Cups as the Maple Leafs
Philadelphia, PA (15)
NFL: 4-4 as the Eagles
NBA: 2-1 as the Philadelphia Warriors; 2-4 as the 76ers
MLB: 5-3 as the Philadelphia Athletics (now known as the Athletics based in West Sacramento,
CA); 2-6 as the Phillies
NHL: 2 Stanley Cups as the Flyers
St. Louis, MO (14)
NFL: 1-1 as the St. Louis Rams
NBA: 1-3 as the St. Louis Hawks (later became the Atlanta Hawks)
MLB: 11-8 as the Cardinals
NHL: 1 Stanley Cup as the Blues
Green Bay, Wisconsin (13)
NFL: 13-5 (most NFL championships) as the Packers
San Francisco, CA (13)
NFL: 5-3 as the 49ers
NBA: 5-2 as Golden State Warriors
MLB: 3-3 as the Giants
Washington, D.C. (8)
NFL: 5-5 (lost once in the championship game as the Boston Redskins). Since 2022, they have been known as the Washington Commanders.
NBA: 1-3 as the Capital Bullets then Washington Bullets (they are now known as the Washington Wizards)
MLB: 1-3 as the Washington Senators (now known as the Minnesota Twins)
NHL: 1 Stanley Cup as the Capitals
Dallas, TX (8)
NFL: 5-3 as the Cowboys
NBA: 1-2 as the Mavericks
MLB: 1-2 as the Rangers
NHL: 1 Stanley Cup as the Stars
Miami, FL (8)
NFL: 2-3 as the Dolphins
NBA: 3-4 as the Heat
MLB: 2-0 as the Marlins
NHL: 1 Stanley Cup as the Florida Panthers
Cleveland, OH (8)
NFL: 1-0 as the Cleveland Rams; 4-5 as the Browns
NBA: 1-4 as the Cavaliers
MLB: 2-4 as the Guardians
Baltimore, MD (8)
NFL: 3-2 as the Baltimore Colts; 2-0 as the Ravens
MLB: 3-4 as the Orioles (including the 0-1 as the St. Louis Browns)
Minneapolis, MN (8)
NBA: 6-1 as the Minneapolis Lakers
MLB: 2-3 as the Twins
Denver, CO (7)
NFL: 3-5 as the Broncos
NBA: 1-0 as the Nuggets
NHL: 3 Stanley Cups as the Avalanche
Kansas City, MO (6)
NFL: 4-2 as the Chiefs
MLB: 2-2 as the Royals
Oakland, CA (6)
NFL: 2-2 as the Oakland Raiders
MLB: 4-2 as the Oakland Athletics
San Antonio, TX (5)
NBA: 5-1 as the Spurs
Tampa, FL (5)
NFL: 2-0 as the Buccaneers
NHL: 3 Stanley Cups as the Lightning
Cincinnati, OH (5)
MLB: 5-4 as the Reds
Edmonton, AB (5)
NHL: 5 Stanley Cups as the Oilers
Houston, TX (4)
NBA: 2-2 as the Rockets
MLB: 2-3 as the Astros
Milwaukee, WI (3)
NBA: 2-1 as the Bucks
MLB: 1-1 as the Milwaukee Braves (now known as the Atlanta Braves)
Newark, NJ (3)
NHL: 3 Stanley Cups as the Devils
Seattle, WA (2)
NFL: 1-2 as the Seahawks
NBA: 1-2 as the Seattle Supersonics (later became the Oklahoma City Thunder who are 0-1 in the Finals. They lost in 2012.)
Atlanta, GA (2)
MLB: 2-4 as the Braves
Anaheim, CA (2)
MLB: 1-0 as the Anaheim Angels (now known as the Los Angeles Angels)
NHL: 1 Stanley Cup as the Ducks
Indianapolis, IN (1)
NFL: 1-1 as the Colts
New Orleans, LA (1)
NFL: 1-0 as the Saints
Syracuse, NY (1)
NBA: 1-2 as Syracuse Nationals (later became the Philadelphia 76ers)
Portland, OR (1)
NBA: 1-2 as the Trailblazers
Sacramento, CA (1)
NBA: 1-0 as the Rochester Royals
Phoenix AZ (1)
MLB: 1-1 as the Arizona Diamondbacks
Calgary, AB (1)
NHL: 1 Stanley Cup as the Flames
Raleigh, NC (1)
NHL: 1 Stanley Cup as the Hurricanes
Las Vegas, NV (1)
NHL: 1 Stanley Cup as the Golden Knights
Honorable mentions
The Vikings won the NFL Championship game before the merger but lost the Super Bowl in the same year (Super Bowl 4 in 1969). The Buffalo Bills (4 straight Super Bowls but unfortunately lost each one), Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers, and Tennessee Titans all reached the Super Bowl but lost.
The 1920 Akron Pros (8-0-3), 1922 Canton Bulldogs (10-0-2), 1923 Canton Bulldogs (11-0-1), 1929 Green Bay Packers (12-0-1) all had undefeated regular season records (but had ties and at that time there were no post seasons). The 1934 Chicago Bears (13-0-0) and 1942 Chicago Bears (11-0-0) had perfect regular seasons but both teams lost the Championship game. The 2007 New England Patriots had a perfect regular season (16-0-0) but lost the Super Bowl to the New York Giants. Only the 1972 Miami Dolphins had a perfect complete season (14-0-0 and won the Super Bowl)!
The Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic, and Indiana Pacers made it to the Finals at least once but lost every time. The Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New Orleans Pelicans have yet to make an appearance in the NBA Finals.
The San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Colorado Rockies, and Milwaukee Brewers have appeared but lost in their World Series. Only the Seattle Mariners in the MLB have never appeared in the World Series.