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Study finds LA, not Boston is top city for NBA fandom: Respectfully, we say, "Nuts!"

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Jayson Tatum had a career night with 46 points to help the Celtics get to a seventh game against the Bucks on Sunday. (Wikipedia photo)

With the Celtics about to play in a seventh-game against the Bucks on Sunday and the NBA projected to have $10 billion in revenue this season (which is higher than pre-pandemic revenue), the personal-finance website WalletHub recently released its report on 2022's Best and Worst Cities for Basket Ball Fans.

To find the best cities for professional- and college-basketball fans, WalletHub compared more than 290 of the largest cities across 21 key metrics, ranging from the performance level of each city's NBA and NCAA Division 1 basketball teams to ticket prices to stadium accessibility.

Best Cities for Basketball Fans Worst Cities for Basketball Fans
1. Los Angeles, CA 284. Bethlehem, PA
2. Boston, MA 285. Evansville, IN
3. Salt Lake City, UT 286. Stephenville, TX
4. San Francisco, CA 287. Jersey City, NJ
5. Philadelphia, PA 288. St. George, UT
6. Miami, FL 289. Pocatello, ID
7. San Antonio, TX 290. Daytona Beach, FL
8. Washington, DC 291. Montgomery, AL
9. Houston, TX 292. St. Paul, MN
10. Oklahoma City, OK 293. New Britain, CT


Best vs. Worst

  • Charlotte, North Carolina, has the lowest average ticket price for an NBA game, $63.11, which is 3.2 times less expensive than in San Francisco, the city with the highest at $203.30.
  • The Milwaukee Bucks have the highest performance level among NBA teams, 71.26 percent, which is 2.6 times better than that of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team with the lowest at 27.65 percent.
  • The Gonzaga Bulldogs have the highest performance level among college basketball teams, 93.33 percent, which is 12.1 times better than that of the Chicago State Cougars, the team with the lowest at 7.72 percent.
  • Miami has the highest fan engagement for NBA teams, 42.78, which is 28.9 times higher than in New York, the city with the lowest at 1.48.


To view the full report and your city's rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-basketball-fans/11034


Expert Commentary

Do you have any tips for how basketball fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?

"Sports these days are not cheap, no matter how you choose to consume them. However, the televised product is fantastic. The continued escalation of broadcast media rights ensures that staying at home to watch the game is not as cheap as it used to be, but advances in technology have made the at-home experience much improved. Of course, team owners, players, and stadium operators do not want to hear that it is better to stay home, as it cuts deeply into their various revenue streams. My best advice for enjoying a live game without breaking the bank would be a) to seek out last minute tickets that can be secured on the cheap, b) choose mid-week games that would be cheaper than weekend games, and c) consider going to games that are not necessarily the most sought-after 'marquee' matchups."
Joshua Shuart, Ph.D. - Professor & Director, Sport Management Program, Sacred Heart University

"Watch games on television/stream. Live games are expensive. One option: the NBA G-League, the quasi-minor league of the NBA. Or, WNBA games."
Mark Conrad, JD - Associate Professor & Director, Sports Business Concentration, Fordham University

In your opinion, what will be the financial toll of the pandemic on the basketball industry?

"Data from 2020 suggest that NBA teams lost $450 million in gate revenue (money earned from having live fans at home games) and $200 million in other income streams. But by 2021 on the eve of the NBA Finals Commissioner Adam Silver said the league 'weathered the pandemic well financially.' The big reason is that revenue streams from broadcasting networks, advertisers, and corporate sponsors continues to grow. In 2021, the NBA reported they are seeking a 9-year TV deal worth $75 billion per year. In 2021, the NBA took in $1.5 billion per year in sponsorship revenue. The passionate following from NBA fans and the growth of the sport globally create an environment where so many firms want a piece of the action. Attendance seems to be back to normal; large crowds are coming back again & are very enthusiastic."
Ricard W. Jensen, Ph.D. - Associate Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio

"The pandemic absolutely devastated most professional sports for a solid period. I was actually impressed how the NBA, in particular, operated during the height of the pandemic. They tried to remain relevant amidst cancellations, having remote events such as televised H-O-R-S-E competitions (featuring NBA players) and televised NBA2K video game tournaments (also featuring NBA players). It may have been subtle but the effort showed the league's commitment to staying at the front of consumers' minds, even as most competitive action was completely sidelined. But all sports took amazing financial hits during the pandemic, particularly when it was bad enough to not have any games whatsoever. Anytime there is a stoppage for any reason (strike, lockout, pandemic), there is a financial toll to pay. But leagues seem to recover pretty quickly when the games resume."
Joshua Shuart, Ph.D. - Professor & Director, Sport Management Program, Sacred Heart University

What, in your mind, makes a good basketball fan?

"A good basketball fan follows the sport in as many ways as they can (going to games when they can afford it, watching games on digital media and TV, posting on social media, and buying and wearing the team's merchandise). A good basketball fan has probably played the game at some level. They continue to be fans of the team they love even though there are long periods of failure (the New York Knicks, etc.). They respect the talent of opposing players and show good sportsmanship."
Ricard W. Jensen, Ph.D. - Associate Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio

"It depends from whose perspective you are asking this question. If you are asking fans themselves what makes a good fan, the answer would include things such as loyalty (above all), passion, and engagement. If you were to ask a team owner the same question, the answer would likely involve high levels of emotional attachment, a proclivity to consume (merchandise, tickets, concessions), and probably a decreased price sensitivity...the latter helps as prices continue to soar in the sports industry."
Joshua Shuart, Ph.D. - Professor & Director, Sport Management Program, Sacred Heart University

With the NBA playoffs kicking off on April 16 and the NBA projected to have $10 billion in revenue this season (which is higher than pre-pandemic revenue), the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022's Best & Worst Cities for Basketball Fans, as well as accompanying videos and expert commentary.

To find the best cities for professional- and college-basketball fans, WalletHub compared more than 290 of the largest cities across 21 key metrics, ranging from the performance level of each city's NBA and NCAA Division 1 basketball teams to ticket prices to stadium accessibility.
Best Cities for Basketball Fans Worst Cities for Basketball Fans
1. Los Angeles, CA 284. Bethlehem, PA
2. Boston, MA 285. Evansville, IN
3. Salt Lake City, UT 286. Stephenville, TX
4. San Francisco, CA 287. Jersey City, NJ
5. Philadelphia, PA 288. St. George, UT
6. Miami, FL 289. Pocatello, ID
7. San Antonio, TX 290. Daytona Beach, FL
8. Washington, DC 291. Montgomery, AL
9. Houston, TX 292. St. Paul, MN
10. Oklahoma City, OK 293. New Britain, CT

Best vs. Worst
  • Charlotte, North Carolina, has the lowest average ticket price for an NBA game, $63.11, which is 3.2 times less expensive than in San Francisco, the city with the highest at $203.30.
  • The Milwaukee Bucks have the highest performance level among NBA teams, 71.26 percent, which is 2.6 times better than that of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team with the lowest at 27.65 percent.
  • The Gonzaga Bulldogs have the highest performance level among college basketball teams, 93.33 percent, which is 12.1 times better than that of the Chicago State Cougars, the team with the lowest at 7.72 percent.
  • Miami has the highest fan engagement for NBA teams, 42.78, which is 28.9 times higher than in New York, the city with the lowest at 1.48.

To view the full report and your city's rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-basketball-fans/11034

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a phone, Skype or in-studio interview with one of our experts. Feel free to embed this YouTube video summarizing the study on your website. You can also use or edit these raw files as you see fit. Full data sets for specific cities are also available upon request.


Best,
Diana Polk
WalletHub Communications Manager
(202) 684-6386


More from WalletHub
Expert Commentary

Do you have any tips for how basketball fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?

"Sports these days are not cheap, no matter how you choose to consume them. However, the televised product is fantastic. The continued escalation of broadcast media rights ensures that staying at home to watch the game is not as cheap as it used to be, but advances in technology have made the at-home experience much improved. Of course, team owners, players, and stadium operators do not want to hear that it is better to stay home, as it cuts deeply into their various revenue streams. My best advice for enjoying a live game without breaking the bank would be a) to seek out last minute tickets that can be secured on the cheap, b) choose mid-week games that would be cheaper than weekend games, and c) consider going to games that are not necessarily the most sought-after 'marquee' matchups."
Joshua Shuart, Ph.D. - Professor & Director, Sport Management Program, Sacred Heart University

"Watch games on television/stream. Live games are expensive. One option: the NBA G-League, the quasi-minor league of the NBA. Or, WNBA games."
Mark Conrad, JD - Associate Professor & Director, Sports Business Concentration, Fordham University

In your opinion, what will be the financial toll of the pandemic on the basketball industry?

"Data from 2020 suggest that NBA teams lost $450 million in gate revenue (money earned from having live fans at home games) and $200 million in other income streams. But by 2021 on the eve of the NBA Finals Commissioner Adam Silver said the league 'weathered the pandemic well financially.' The big reason is that revenue streams from broadcasting networks, advertisers, and corporate sponsors continues to grow. In 2021, the NBA reported they are seeking a 9-year TV deal worth $75 billion per year. In 2021, the NBA took in $1.5 billion per year in sponsorship revenue. The passionate following from NBA fans and the growth of the sport globally create an environment where so many firms want a piece of the action. Attendance seems to be back to normal; large crowds are coming back again & are very enthusiastic."
Ricard W. Jensen, Ph.D. - Associate Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio

"The pandemic absolutely devastated most professional sports for a solid period. I was actually impressed how the NBA, in particular, operated during the height of the pandemic. They tried to remain relevant amidst cancellations, having remote events such as televised H-O-R-S-E competitions (featuring NBA players) and televised NBA2K video game tournaments (also featuring NBA players). It may have been subtle but the effort showed the league's commitment to staying at the front of consumers' minds, even as most competitive action was completely sidelined. But all sports took amazing financial hits during the pandemic, particularly when it was bad enough to not have any games whatsoever. Anytime there is a stoppage for any reason (strike, lockout, pandemic), there is a financial toll to pay. But leagues seem to recover pretty quickly when the games resume."
Joshua Shuart, Ph.D. - Professor & Director, Sport Management Program, Sacred Heart University

What, in your mind, makes a good basketball fan?

"A good basketball fan follows the sport in as many ways as they can (going to games when they can afford it, watching games on digital media and TV, posting on social media, and buying and wearing the team's merchandise). A good basketball fan has probably played the game at some level. They continue to be fans of the team they love even though there are long periods of failure (the New York Knicks, etc.). They respect the talent of opposing players and show good sportsmanship."
Ricard W. Jensen, Ph.D. - Associate Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio

"It depends from whose perspective you are asking this question. If you are asking fans themselves what makes a good fan, the answer would include things such as loyalty (above all), passion, and engagement. If you were to ask a team owner the same question, the answer would likely involve high levels of emotional attachment, a proclivity to consume (merchandise, tickets, concessions), and probably a decreased price sensitivity...the latter helps as prices continue to soar in the sports industry."
Joshua Shuart, Ph.D. - Professor & Director, Sport Management Program, Sacred Heart University
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