How Does Your State Stack Up? The Full Ranking
| Rank | State | Index score (Oregon = 100) | Pro teams per 10M residents | Pro championships (2001–2025) | College titles (2001–2025) | Niche sports score | Lowest college ticket (USD) | Sports bars per 10M residents |
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| 1 | Oregon | 100.0 | 9.4 | 4 | 5 | 6.00 | $8 | 664.5 |
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| 2 | Colorado | 98.5 | 10.0 | 5 | 5 | 5.58 | $8 | 575.5 |
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| 3 | California | 97.6 | 6.1 | 33 | 20 | 2.14 | $46 | 313.6 |
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| 4 | Florida | 95.6 | 5.1 | 13 | 14 | 1.84 | $7 | 578.4 |
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| 5 | Minnesota | 92.1 | 10.3 | 4 | 5 | 4.12 | $10 | 548.8 |
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| 6 | Massachusetts | 89.7 | 8.4 | 13 | 6 | 3.02 | $7 | 378.8 |
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| 7 | Wisconsin | 87.5 | 5.0 | 2 | 1 | 3.06 | $8 | 1,190.4 |
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| 8 | North Carolina | 86.7 | 4.5 | 3 | 18 | 1.87 | $7 | 442.0 |
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| 9 | Missouri | 84.7 | 9.6 | 9 | 0 | 2.20 | $10 | 660.2 |
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| 10 | Texas | 81.4 | 4.1 | 10 | 10 | 1.05 | $8 | 589.1 |
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| 11 | Washington | 80.1 | 7.5 | 7 | 2 | 4.22 | $9 | 439.9 |
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| 12 | Ohio | 79.9 | 6.7 | 4 | 4 | 1.93 | $7 | 688.2 |
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| 13 | Utah | 78.8 | 11.3 | 1 | 0 | 6.80 | $19 | 265.6 |
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| 14 | Illinois | 77.7 | 6.3 | 6 | 0 | 2.63 | $7 | 721.0 |
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| 15 | Pennsylvania | 74.5 | 6.1 | 8 | 4 | 1.51 | $8 | 504.6 |
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| 16 | Indiana | 74.2 | 4.3 | 2 | 8 | 2.39 | $7 | 527.7 |
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| 17 | Louisiana | 69.6 | 4.3 | 1 | 7 | 0.17 | $7 | 679.9 |
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| 18 | Nebraska | 69.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3.16 | $7 | 1,119.9 |
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| 19 | Arizona | 68.3 | 5.2 | 4 | 1 | 2.53 | $11 | 602.1 |
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| 20 | North Dakota | 68.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 11 | 2.68 | $28 | 963.3 |
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| 21 | Michigan | 65.9 | 3.9 | 6 | 3 | 2.26 | $11 | 510.5 |
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| 22 | Tennessee | 65.1 | 5.5 | 0 | 5 | 1.15 | $7 | 462.1 |
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| 23 | Maryland | 64.0 | 4.8 | 2 | 5 | 1.55 | $7 | 387.8 |
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| 24 | New York | 63.3 | 5.0 | 4 | 3 | 1.43 | $8 | 417.9 |
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| 25 | South Dakota | 62.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 3.78 | $15 | 898.3 |
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| 26 | Nevada | 61.4 | 9.1 | 4 | 0 | 2.16 | $51 | 837.9 |
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| 27 | South Carolina | 60.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 10 | 1.16 | $9 | 599.6 |
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| 28 | Kansas | 60.3 | 3.4 | 1 | 2 | 2.98 | $20 | 661.7 |
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| 29 | Georgia | 59.6 | 4.4 | 2 | 2 | 1.08 | $7 | 475.1 |
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| 30 | Montana | 58.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 6.78 | $23 | 655.2 |
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| 31 | Iowa | 57.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2.42 | $7 | 833.7 |
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| 32 | New Jersey | 57.2 | 5.2 | 5 | 0 | 1.65 | $10 | 335.1 |
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| 33 | Connecticut | 54.4 | 2.7 | 0 | 17 | 2.57 | $52 | 425.6 |
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| 34 | Virginia | 52.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 7 | 1.88 | $7 | 367.1 |
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| 35 | Alabama | 51.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 7 | 0.67 | $7 | 464.1 |
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| 36 | Rhode Island | 51.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 3.88 | $8 | 448.6 |
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| 37 | Kentucky | 50.2 | 2.2 | 0 | 2 | 1.44 | $8 | 408.1 |
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| 38 | Idaho | 49.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 5.18 | $17 | 468.0 |
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| 39 | Oklahoma | 49.3 | 2.4 | 1 | 1 | 1.49 | $7 | 361.4 |
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| 40 | Wyoming | 48.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 5.26 | $17 | 441.6 |
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| 41 | Vermont | 48.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 6.58 | $15 | 201.7 |
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| 42 | West Virginia | 46.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 1.88 | $16 | 628.5 |
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| 43 | Mississippi | 42.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 0.28 | $7 | 463.8 |
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| 44 | New Hampshire | 42.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 4.44 | $21 | 381.5 |
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| 45 | Maine | 41.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3.22 | $19 | 424.1 |
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| 46 | Delaware | 38.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 2.34 | $22 | 443.4 |
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| 47 | New Mexico | 37.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2.57 | $11 | 225.8 |
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| 48 | Alaska | 36.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3.71 | $28 | 379.8 |
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| 49 | Arkansas | 33.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.50 | $15 | 295.4 |
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| 50 | Hawaii | 14.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2.56 | $63 | 397.8 |
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The 10 Most Fun States for Sports Fans
Oregon just claims the title as the most fun state for sports fans by 1.5 over Colorado and 2.4 ahead of California. Our top 10 stretches from the Pacific Northwest all the way over to Florida.
1. Oregon – 100
Despite having no NFL or MLB team, Oregon still tops our ranking. The state’s biggest city, Portland, is home to the NBA’s Trail Blazers, MLS’s Timbers, NWSL’s Thorns, and WNBA’s Portland Fire. As a result, the state has 9.4 pro teams per 10 million residents, putting it fifth in the country.
Its niche sport score, which looks at the number of climbing gyms, pickleball courts, and skateparks, is where our top state really shines. It ranks fourth for these sporting facilities per resident, with 150 skateparks and 609 pickleball courts throughout the state. It’s also affordable for sports fans, with a ticket to college basketball costing just $8, the tied second lowest.
2. Colorado – 98.5
Just 1.5 behind is Colorado. Its capital city, Denver, has a team in all four traditional major leagues, plus MLS and NWSL teams. The state of the Rockies has the second-most climbing gyms per resident, with 76.5 per 10 million.
It scores highly when it comes to trophies won too. The state has claimed five pro titles since 2001, from the Avalanche's two Stanley Cups to the Nuggets' first NBA title in 2023, plus five college hockey titles for the Denver Pioneers. Like Oregon, a ticket to a college basketball game in Colorado will set fans back just $8, making it another standout state for sports fans.
3. California – 97.6
The top three states are a tight race, with California just 2.4 behind Oregon and 0.9 behind Colorado. No state comes close to California’s trophy cabinet. The state earns its ‘golden’ name through 33 pro championships and 20 college titles since 2001. Its haul includes the Dodgers’ back-to-back World Series wins in 2024 and 2025, and four NBA titles for the Warriors.
Price is what holds California back. The cheapest ticket to see the college basketball team, the California Golden Bears, is $46, the fourth-highest in our study.
4. Florida – 95.6
Florida is a hotbed for hockey, with the Lightning winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and the Panthers in 2024 and 2025. Overall, the state has 13 pro championships since 2001, the second most tied.
The Sunshine State does just as well at college-level with 14 national titles in the last 25 years. Getting a seat to see the Florida Gators, the three-times men’s college basketball champions, will only set fans back $7, tied for the lowest.
5. Minnesota – 92.1
Minnesota calls itself the State of Hockey, and the numbers back it up. All five of its college titles since 2001 came on the ice, two for the Golden Gophers and three for Minnesota Duluth.
It also has the second-most teams per resident, with 10.3 per 10 million, and the third-most pickleball courts per resident, with 1,680.8 per 10 million.
6. Massachusetts – 89.7
Boston has earned its City of Champions nickname. Massachusetts teams have won 13 pro championships since 2001, including six Super Bowls in the Patriots dynasty and four World Series for the Red Sox, starting with the 2004 title that ended an 86-year drought.
Boston College's four ice hockey titles help give the state six college titles. UMass basketball tickets start at just $7, tied for the cheapest of any in the study.
7. Wisconsin – 87.5
If you’re looking to watch sports with a crowd, Wisconsin is the place. It has more sports bars per resident than any other state, with 1,190.4 per 10 million. There’s also plenty on the screens with the Packers at Lambeau Field and the Bucks, who won the 2021 NBA title.
On top of that, watching college basketball is affordable with a ticket starting at just $8.
8. North Carolina – 86.7
North Carolina’s colleges have won 18 national titles since 2001, second only to California. Their trophy cabinet includes six men’s basketball titles for Duke and UNC, six women’s soccer titles for UNC, and three straight FCS football titles for Appalachian State.
A ticket to see the Tar Heels starts at just $7, so it’s tied for the cheapest in the study.
9. Missouri – 84.7
Missouri has the fourth-most pro teams per resident, with 9.6 per 10 million, split between two big sports cities in Kansas City and St. Louis. Its pro teams have won nine championships in the last 25 years, including three Super Bowls for the Chiefs and two World Series for the Cardinals.
Interestingly, the state has no college titles to its name since 2001, which is what drops it down the rankings.
10. Texas – 81.4
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the sports calendar. Its 13 pro teams are second only to California, and they've won 10 titles since 2001. Those include four NBA championships for the Spurs and the Rangers' first World Series in 2023.
Its colleges add 10 national titles to the total, and the cheapest Texas Longhorns ticket we found was just $8.
No Pro Team, No Problem: The States Punching Above Their Weight
Twenty-one states have no major pro team, but some still give their fans plenty to cheer about.
Nebraska (18th): the highest-ranked state without a single pro team, it ranks ahead of the likes of New York and Arizona, which have pro teams and championships. It has the second-most sports bars per resident, with 1,119.9 per 10 million. The Cornhuskers basketball tickets are tied for the cheapest in the whole country at just $7.
North Dakota (20th): despite having no pro teams, North Dakota punches above its weight due to North Dakota State. The Bison have won 10 FCS national titles since 2012, helping a state of less than 800,000 people win more college titles than Texas.
South Dakota (25th): South Dakota is almost as fun for sports fans as its northern counterpart. It might be the place to go if you want to watch sports at a bar, with the fourth-most sports bars per resident, with 898.3 per 10 million.
The Least Fun States for Sports Fans
There are some states that sports fans might want to steer clear of. Hawaii finishes in last place with a score of just 14, about a seventh of Oregon’s. The island state has no major pro teams, although it does have college basketball’s Rainbow Warriors. However, the cheapest ticket we found to watch them was $63, the most expensive in our study.
All five of the lowest-ranked states have no major pro team.
| Rank | State | Index Score (Oregon = 100) | What Holds It Back |
|---|
| 50 | Hawaii | 14.0 | Hawaii has no national titles in the sports we counted since 2001, the most expensive college ticket at $63, and the fewest pickleball courts per resident. |
| 49 | Arkansas | 33.9 | Arkansas has no national titles in the sports we looked at since 2001 and has the fourth-fewest sports bars per resident. |
| 48 | Alaska | 36.2 | Alaska doesn’t have any pro teams and hasn’t won any college titles in the sports we examined since 2001. It also doesn’t have any Division I basketball, so we counted college ice hockey instead, where a single ticket cost $28. |
| 47 | New Mexico | 37.3 | New Mexico has the second-fewest sports bars per resident, with 225.8 per 10 million. It also has no pro teams or college titles in the sports we looked at in the past 25 years. |
| 46 | Delaware | 38.7 | Delaware ranks 46th in our study with no pro teams, only two climbing gyms, and just 47 sports bars in the whole state. It tops the bottom five because it has won one college title in the sports we counted since 2001. |
The States for Niche Sports Fans
Being a sports fan isn’t just about watching the top leagues; it’s also about taking part. Niche sports, like climbing, skateboarding, and pickleball, thrive in the mountains and northern states. They lead our niche sports factor, which looks at the number of all three per resident.
Utah has the highest niche sports score with 6.80 out of 10, driven by the most pickleball courts per resident in the country.
Montana has the most climbing gyms per resident, with 87.4 per 10 million.
Vermont has the most skateparks per resident, at 527.4 per 10 million, despite having just 34 in total.
Our Methodology
We ranked all 50 states on six factors:
Pro teams per 10 million residents: 2026 teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and NWSL, counted by the state of their home venue (so the Giants and Jets count for New Jersey).
Pro championships: titles won in the same seven leagues from 2001 to 2025.
College titles: NCAA Division I national championships from 2001 to 2025 in FBS and FCS football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, men's ice hockey, and men's and women's soccer.
Niche sports: skateparks, climbing gyms, and pickleball courts per 10 million residents, each scored separately and then averaged.
Lowest college ticket price: the cheapest standard adult ticket for one November 2026 home game of each state's flagship men's basketball team from SeatGeek. New Hampshire's price comes from the university's website. Alaska has no Division I basketball, so its price is for an Alaska Anchorage men's ice hockey game in December 2026.
Sports bars per 10 million residents: state counts from SportsBarAtlas.
Each factor is scored from 0 to 10: the state with the highest figure scores 10, and the lowest scores 0. The six-factor scores are averaged, then indexed so the top-ranked state scores 100 and every other state is shown as a percentage of the leader's score.
Sources
Population: U.S. Census Bureau, state population estimates (Vintage 2025)
Pro teams: NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, WNBA, NWSL
Pro championships: Wikipedia lists of Super Bowl, World Series, NBA, Stanley Cup, MLS Cup, WNBA and NWSL champions
College titles: FBS football, FCS football, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, men's ice hockey, men's soccer, women's soccer
Skateparks: Concrete Disciples, USA Skateparks Guide
Climbing gyms: IndoorClimbingGym.com
Pickleball courts: InstaMaps, built from OpenStreetMap data
College ticket prices: SeatGeek, University of New Hampshire Athletics, Alaska Anchorage hockey on SeatGeek
Sports bars: SportsBarAtlas
All data collected in November 2026.
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