Many cities will declare superiority, however just one can have the very best yr. Listed below are the American sports activities cities that had the very best years in 2024.
2024 is sort of within the books, and the way nice a yr it was is within the eye of the beholder.
Relating to sports activities, some followers will keep in mind this yr as among the best of their lives. Others will do their finest to not keep in mind the yr in any respect.
Final yr, we took a take a look at the 13 American metro areas with at the least 4 big-four (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL) skilled sports activities franchises and ranked them by successful proportion. We ranked every of those metro areas by combining every workforce’s regular-season successful proportion and weighing them equally. That manner MLB groups don’t tip the dimensions greater than NFL groups as a result of enjoying considerably extra video games. We’ve achieved the identical factor this yr.
As a result of we’re wanting on the calendar yr of 2024, this counts elements of two seasons for each sport however MLB and solely counts video games that happened from Jan. 1 to Dec. 29, 2024. And, not like final yr, there was a runaway first-place metro space and runaway last-place metro space.
1. Minneapolis (Mixed Win Share: .629)
Minneapolis had a stable sports activities yr in 2023 however took a giant step ahead in 2024 to maneuver from fourth to first in these rankings. The Vikings gave the workforce a giant enhance, going from a median workforce to a dominant one with an .824 successful proportion in 2024. Minneapolis additionally benefitted from being the one metro space on the listing with all of its groups over .500, with the Timberwolves (.598), Wild (.589) and Twins (.506) all being above common.
Nonetheless, most Minneapolis followers received’t be happy till one among their groups takes house a championship. Minneapolis has the longest championship drought of metro areas with 4 or extra big-four groups, as the town hasn’t celebrated a championship in any of those leagues because the 1991 Twins. However, with the Vikings, Timberwolves and Wild all wanting like actual contenders, Minneapolis feels nearer to a championship celebration than it has been in a very long time.
For now, this title must do.
2. Philadelphia (.575)
A .575 successful proportion wouldn’t be a step down for many cities, but it surely was for Philadelphia coming off a .621 successful proportion that led these rankings in 2023.
The 76ers extraordinarily gradual begin to the 2024-25 season was the offender, because the workforce was the worst within the metropolis in 2024 with a .468 successful proportion. The Flyers (.482) additionally dipped beneath .500 this yr after being above it final yr.
However Philadelphia nonetheless sits in second because of the nice play of the Eagles (.765) and Phillies (.586). And, like Minneapolis, Philadelphia is hungrier for a championship than most cities, with solely two big-four titles up to now 30 years.
3. Dallas (.560)
Needless to say the information for these rankings is thru Dec. 29, and the subsequent three spots are so shut that they might change within the remaining couple of days.
For now, although, Dallas will get the bronze rating, with a transparent line of haves and have nots.
Each the Stars (.659) and Mavericks (.630) completed the yr with successful percentages over .600. The Mavericks made it to the NBA Finals, whereas the Stars misplaced within the Western Convention Finals to the Edmonton Oilers.
In the meantime, the Rangers (.481) and Cowboys (.471) each had disappointing campaigns and completed underneath .500 in 2024. The Rangers couldn’t preserve momentum following a World Collection victory in 2023, and the Cowboys had their season derailed with key accidents to Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons.
4. Detroit (.559)
Respiratory down the neck of Dallas is Detroit, which jumped all the way in which from tenth in 2023.
The Lions (.875) had been once more the dominant workforce in Detroit this yr, with the very best successful proportion of any workforce within the 13 metro areas after tying for the highest spot with the San Francisco 49ers final yr.
However large enhancements from the Tigers (.531), Crimson Wings (.525) and Pistons (.305) are what drove the upward mobility for Detroit in 2024. The Pistons’ successful proportion might not appear spectacular, however remember the fact that is approaching the heels of a .125 successful proportion in 2023. It’s a fairly large step in the suitable route.
5. Los Angeles/Anaheim (.555)
Los Angeles had plenty of nice groups in 2024, with 4 groups over a .600 successful proportion. No different metro space had greater than two.
The Rams (.647) led the way in which, however the Clippers (.610), Lakers (.608), Dodgers (.605), Kings (.594) and Chargers (.588) all had sturdy years as nicely. The Dodgers took house the World Collection after grabbing Shohei Ohtani within the offseason.
Sadly for Los Angeles/Anaheim, the workforce the Dodgers took Ohtani from was additionally within the space, and the Angels (.389) partnered with the Geese (.401) to stop Los Angeles/Anaheim from being even greater within the rankings.
6. Denver (.545)
Denver bought sturdy years from three of its 4 groups however was introduced down by the same old suspect.
The Nuggets (.654) and Avalanche (.622) had been each excellent, and the Broncos (.529) turned their fortunes round and completed above .500 for the yr as nicely. However it’s been some time because the Rockies (.377) as a corporation appeared to care about successful baseball video games, and 2024 was no exception. The Rockies are doubtless grateful for the ineptitude of the Chicago White Sox as a result of nobody exterior of Denver mentions that Colorado had the second-worst document in MLB this yr.
7. Miami (.513)
Miami fell from second to seventh within the rankings, with three of its 4 groups having worse years in 2024 than they did in 2023.
The workforce that improved, nonetheless, was the Florida Panthers (.663), who additionally received the Stanley Cup a yr after falling within the Stanley Cup Ultimate.
The Warmth (.538) and Dolphins (.471) took steps again, and the Marlins (.383) went from a shock playoff workforce to one of many worst groups within the league.
8. Boston (.507)
Boston is the final metropolis to complete over .500 this yr, and it’s additionally the ultimate metropolis on this listing to have received a title this yr. The Celtics (.744) led the way in which in successful proportion en path to a championship.
The Bruins (.606) had one other sturdy yr, whereas the Crimson Sox (.500) managed to search out their method to a fair document.
As you may need guessed, which means the Patriots (.176) held down Boston as a complete, with New England having the worst successful proportion of any workforce within the 13 metro areas. However even which may really feel like a small victory for Boston followers, because the Patriots are at present in line to get the No.1 general draft choose in subsequent yr’s NFL Draft.
9.) Phoenix (.484)
Sadly, this might be Phoenix’s final yr on these rankings for the foreseeable future, because the Coyotes transfer to Utah provides Phoenix solely three groups within the metro space.
So as to add insult to damage, the Coyotes (.394) had the worst successful proportion amongst groups within the metro space, whereas the Cardinals (.412) weren’t far behind.
The Diamondbacks (.549) adopted a shock World Collection runner-up season by ending over .500 once more, however the Suns (.580) took the crown as the very best workforce in Phoenix in 2024.
10.) New York/New Jersey (.481)
It could be shocking to see New York/New Jersey down this low with the sturdy years from the Knicks (.671), Rangers (.585), Yankees (.580) and Mets (.549). Even the Devils (.535) and Islanders (.518) managed to complete over .500.
However New York was dragged down by its two NFL groups much more than final yr. The Jets (.294) and Giants (.235) had been the 2 worst groups within the space in 2023 however in some way managed to be even worse in 2024. The Nets (.358) additionally fell off dramatically, leading to New York/New Jersey being the fourth-worst metro space within the rankings.
James Murphy, your metropolis’s a borderline sucker.
11. Washington D.C. (.466)
Rating eleventh out of 13 groups might not appear nice, but it surely’s a step up from 2023, when Washington D.C. was useless final.
The Wizards (.177) proceed to pull Washington D.C.’s rating down, ending simply 0.1% higher than the Patriots. However the remainder of Washington D.C. appears to be on the upswing.
The Nationals (.438) turned in a extra respectable season than most prognosticators anticipated, the Capitals (.601) rebounded, and the Commanders (.647) look fully rejuvenated by Jayden Daniels. Washington D.C. is a sports activities space on the rise.
12. Bay Space (.439)
The 49ers (.375) descent from among the best groups within the NFL in 2023 to nicely beneath common in 2024 doomed the Bay Space this yr. Solely the Warriors (.580) had been in a position to end above .500, with the Giants (.494) as soon as once more being shut.
The Bay Space loses the Athletics (.426), who’ve been an anchor in earlier years however had been truly center of the pack for Bay Space groups this yr. With the Athletics’ enchancment, the Sharks (.321) simply took the prize for the worst workforce within the Bay.
13. Chicago (.360)
How unhealthy had been issues in Chicago this yr? The White Sox (.253) set the document for many losses in a season in MLB and weren’t even the worst workforce within the metropolis.
That distinction belongs to the Bears (.235) whose once-promising 4-2 begin has been adopted by 10 straight losses. The Blackhawks (.325) weren’t a lot better, and the Bulls (.475) continued to be the definition of the place you don’t need to be within the NBA (too good to tank, not ok to matter). The Cubs (.512) had been the one workforce over .500 in Chicago in 2024.
4 of the 5 big-four groups in Chicago have fired their head coaches since November 2023, leaving Bulls coach Billy Donovan as the one coach within the metropolis with greater than a yr along with his present workforce. After ending twelfth within the rankings in 2023, issues have gone from unhealthy to worse for Chicago.
There’s nonetheless some motive for optimism in 2025, nonetheless. The Bears and Blackhawks each function an extremely proficient current No.1 general choose – Caleb Williams and Connor Bedard – who may develop with the suitable teaching and gamers round him. And the Cubs traded for Kyle Tucker, who may give the workforce the star-power it’s been missing.
Maybe Chicago is lined up for a greater 2025. After two years of nonstop dropping, the fan base deserves it.
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