We're number ... 15.
Tampa-St. Petersburg placed 15th on the Sporting News annual Best Sports Cities list. The magazine featured nearly 400 cities and towns in the United States and Canada and ranked them according to system that assigns points to a variety of categories, including number of teams, won-lost records, playoff berths, bowl appearances, tournament bids, championships and then such objective things as fan fervor and attendance.
"The Rays' World Series run in 2008 is part of Tampa-St. Pete's story in our 12-month city snapshot,'' said Sporting News chief of correspondents Bob Hille, who has coordinated the rankings since their expansion 13 years ago. "But remember that on any given day fans can see big-time sports -- the Rays, Bucs and Lightning -- and then throw in South Florida's strong football program and spring training baseball, and you've got some great ingredients for a fun sports atmosphere.''
So who is No. 1? Pittsburgh, thanks to championships by the Penguins and Steelers, was named the best sports city, unseating Boston, which held the title three of the past five years. Boston slipped to No. 3 on the latest list.
Rounding out the top 10 were Philadelphia at No. 2, Chicago (No. 4), Los Angeles (No. 5), New York (No. 6), Phoenix-Tempe (No. 7), Miami (No. 8), Dallas-Fort Worth (No. 9), Detroit-Ann Arbour (No. 10).
For the entire Sporting News list, click here.
Tom Jones doesn't sing "It's Not Unusual'' or shake his hips (well, unless you're willing to pay cash), but he does have plenty to say about sports. If it's funny, crazy, weird, irreverent or worth arguing, Tom has his opinions. So pull up a chair and get his two cents -- and give him your two cents, as well.
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If Boulder and Denver count as one market, why not Tampa Orlando together?
Posted by: linda sagese | October 08, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Linda, do you have something against St. Petersburg? It was afterall St. Petersburg's Rays who made it to the World Series. Not a "Tampa" team, unless you're a lazy journalist who doesn't know geography.
Posted by: Joe Grogran | October 08, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Miami??
Have you seen the empty seats at all their team's games? They are more concerned about South Beach and their mojito's then their sports teams
Posted by: Scherdin | October 09, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Miami should never be higher then Tampa
Posted by: Sal | October 09, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Joe the Rays are Tampa's team just like the Giants are New York's team even though they play in Jersey.
Posted by: Sal | October 09, 2009 at 10:37 PM
why cant it be Orlanso and Tampa? Magic went to the NBA finals and they will continue to do well
Posted by: mike | October 10, 2009 at 03:38 PM