City Lights Series: Best Sports Cities in the U.S.

Travel

Can you root, root, root for the home team anywhere you go? We don’t judge. There’s no better place to cheer on the hometown heroes than these big sports destinations.

Check out recommendations from concierge staff in several U.S. cities, each with a winning venue and a deep love of their teams that sets the tone for the entire city. 

Minneapolis

Sports are a major part of Minneapolis culture, and all the action conveniently takes place right in the heart of the city. In fact, the three most popular stadiums in “Mini-Apple” are within walking distance of each other so fans can easily join in on the excitement from one central location. Check out U.S. Bank Stadium to see the Minnesota Vikings on the 50-yard line, head over to Target Field to watch the Twins round the bases or take a trip to Target Center to see the ladies’ Lynx or men’s Timberwolves take to the court. For a pint and a little sports fun of your own, Esta Goodman, Director of Sales at Holiday Inn Express Downtown Minneapolis, recommends Britts Pub for lawn bowling.

What’s Minneapolis without its Twin City? Fans of hockey or soccer can take a quick trip across the river to St. Paul, where the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and Minnesota United FC play.

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Chicago

As the home of Wrigley Field, one of baseball’s most historic stadiums, it’s no surprise Chicago is world-famous for its storied sports history and abundance of passionate fans. The Windy City is home to its beloved football team, “Da Bears,” the NHL’s Blackhawks, and the Bulls, home of basketball legend Michael Jordan for 14 incredible years.

Chicago is also home to two baseball teams — the Cubs on the North Side and the White Sox on the South Side — but as any true Chicagoan will tell you, you can only pick one. Whichever team or sport you decide to root for, you’re guaranteed to have a good time cheering them on with a slice of Chicago deep-dish and sweeping lakefront cityscapes in your view. Post-game, Bobby Gonzalez, Director of Concierge Services at Kimpton Gray Hotel Chicago, strongly recommends the architecture river cruise to fully take in the city.

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Miami

If you’re looking to cheer on your favorite team in a warmer climate, Miami is a great choice. The sunny South Florida city reps the NFL’s Dolphins, NBA’s Heat, and MLB’s Marlins, to name a few, and they all combine a love of sports with a fun atmosphere deserving of one of the country’s liveliest locales. In fact, one of the city’s hottest nightclubs, The Clevelander, operates a satellite location right inside of Marlins Park — complete with a full bar, restaurant, and pool.

The steamy city even lays claim to its own hockey team, the Florida Panthers, and has recently welcomed Major League Soccer to its impressive sports roster with Inter Miami CF led by the legendary David Beckham. Between games, Alex Alvarez, Director of Sales and Marketing at Crowne Plaza Miami Airport, suggests taking a catamaran through gorgeous Biscayne Bay.

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Indianapolis

Home to a whopping 11 professional teams, Indianapolis is a certified sports lover’s paradise. Football fans can cheer on the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, while basketball fans have their pick of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, WNBA’s Indiana Fever, and GWBA’s Indianapolis Bandits. Meanwhile, the Indy Eleven brings the excitement for Major League Soccer fans, and the Indianapolis Indians and Indy Fuel scratch the city’s itch for minor league baseball and minor league hockey, respectively.

That said, the real draw to the city’s sports offerings — at least for “Harry Potter” fans — is the Indianapolis Intensity, one of just 13 Major League Quidditch teams in the United States.

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Atlanta

The athletic climate is just peachy in Georgia thanks to five major team sports represented in and around its capital city of Atlanta. Three of those teams dazzle fans right in the heart of the city’s downtown area, allowing fans easy access to root on their favorite teams. The NBA’s Hawks hit the courts at State Farm Arena, while Mercedes-Benz Stadium plays host to both the NFL’s Falcons and Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United FC. Fans of the WNBA can take a short drive to College Park to see the Atlanta Dream, while baseball fans can head north to see the Braves hit their homers all the way out of Truist Park.

The fun doesn’t end there. Lacrosse fans are also represented with not one, but two teams: the Atlanta Blaze of Major League Lacrosse and the Georgia Swarm of the National Lacrosse League. Major League Rugby also has its opportunity to shine with Rugby ATL, enjoying its inaugural season in 2020. After a day of cheering on the team, Morris Gordon, Concierge at the InterContinental Atlanta Buckhead, says a meal at Southern Art Restaurant and Bourbon Bar will have you cheering for your food, served with classic Southern hospitality.

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