America's Best Sports City Is An East Coast Hub Packed With Iconic Stadiums (And It's Not NYC)

Here are a few conversational grenades you can deploy next time you saddle up on a barstool and order a beer while the game's on. "LeBron is better than Michael Jordan." Or try, "Babe Ruth wouldn't make it in today's big leagues." And here's a perennial classic: "X is America's best sports city." The brave souls over at WalletHub took a stab at that last one, declaring an East Coast hub packed with iconic stadiums the No. 1 sports town. Oh, you guessed New York? Wrong! It's a city that's home to America's oldest public park, the country's oldest continuously operating tavern, and also happens to be one of the greenest cities in the world: Boston.

The site analyzed 399 cities, comparing them along more than 50 metrics to determine the best sports cities for 2025. When taking football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, and soccer into account, Boston topped the list, excelling across multiple sports while boasting iconic venues. The home of the Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, and Revolution beat out the likes of Los Angeles (second), Dallas (fifth), and New York (fourth). It's a debate with real-world implications.

Sports franchises are expected to generate about $48.9 billion in U.S. revenue in 2025, according to IBIS World. "Sports can cause rivalries between cities, but can also give people a deep appreciation for places other than their hometown," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. "The best sports cities overall tend to be those with the highest-performing, most-popular professional teams." WalletHub isn't the only one taking notice. Even Stephen A. Smith put Boston atop his list of best sports towns. Agree or not, the site's analysis got one thing right: Winning matters. Boston's teams produce wins with aplomb, and do so in some of the country's most storied stadiums and arenas.

Beantown's sports heritage can be boiled down to three major, iconic franchises: The Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots (all due respect to the Bruins' blue-collar fanbase and New England Revolution's loyal supporters). Within that trinity, the Red Sox persist as the definitive Boston franchise, passed down through generations and sparking an almost religious fervor. Within this sect, Fenway Park serves as a sacred temple — and a reason Rick Steves put it on his list of best American cities for tourism. Baseball has only a few locations that are truly symbolic and universally recognizable, and Fenway is among them, thanks in part to the Green Monster, a 37-foot-high wall originally built to prevent peeping fans from watching games for free. Boston's sports wealth is such that you can leave Fenway and find another iconic arena just 10 minutes away at TD Garden (formerly Boston Garden).

If the Red Sox inspire religious devotion, the Boston Celtics offer the brash, prideful identity that fits Boston's blue-collar, gritty stereotype. The Celtics' championship teams have long reflected that same spirit. Setting aside the Jayson Tatum-led 2024 title winners, the Celtics are best remembered for the dynastic run that produced 11 championships out of 13 seasons from 1957 to 1969, led by Bill Russell. Yet when it comes to Boston and sustained winning, a more recent dynasty stands out.

The Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era New England Patriots erased memories of the franchise's history as a league-wide doormat. Both "Tom Terrific" and "The Hoodie" are now gone, but their former home field is still dynastic. Gillette Stadium and its Patriot Place annex create a unique mix of sports and entertainment with fun events, activities, and stores. There's no wrong time to visit, whether it's a playoff-deciding Sunday game or the offseason.

The key to any sports-related travel is timing. If you want to go stadium- and arena-hopping around Beantown, aim for October, when most of the city's sports overlap. The sun will be setting on the Major League Baseball season, but there's a good chance the Red Sox will make the playoffs. The Patriots will be blitzing into their season, while the NBA's preseason kicks off as well. The National Hockey League starts up in October, while the New England Revolution will be at the tail end of its campaign. A well-planned, well-timed trip can let you catch nearly every major Boston franchise in action.

Anyone in the Northeast with access to a car can — and should — drive into the city. Those farther afield should fly into Boston Logan International Airport. Fenway Park and the TD Garden are a combined 16 minutes away, a testament to Boston's devotion to its sports franchises. You won't be short on lodging options. The Verb, a boutique music-theme hotel, hides in Fenway Park's shadow. If you're looking for comfort and a snazzy view, consider staying overnight at the InterContinental Boston, a luxury hotel with seven harbor views that's considered one of the best in the world. A mid-October suite can be booked for about $500 a night.

There's perhaps a sleeper pick on the horizon for when sports fanatics should visit. Beantown is one of the U.S. cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Expect fierce competition over tickets and accommodations, but also a once-in-a-generation experience. And in case you want another barstool debate while you're there, here's a real grenade: "Tom Brady isn't the GOAT. He's a systems quarterback." You may want to wear a helmet when you say it.