With the Broncos in full swing and the Nuggets and Avalanche about to start another season, Denver cracked the Sporting News’ annual list of the best American sports cities released Tuesday.
Denver landed at No. 7 on the list, behind Phoenix and ahead of Los Angeles. Denver was ranked No. 1 in 1995 and 1997. Boston earned the No. 1 spot this year for the third time since 2004.
The magazine ranks cities on a variety of factors, including number of teams and their win-loss records, playoff berths, bowl appearances and tournament bids, fan support and attendance, stadium quality and quality of ownership, among others.
“Anyone who has spent time in Denver knows what a great sports town it is,” Sporting News’ Bob Hille said.
Denver also got a bump in the rankings, Hille said, because of the Rockies run to the World Series last season.
2008 Sporting News best sports cities:
1. Boston
2. Detroit and Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti
3. Dallas-Fort Worth
4. New York
5. Philadelphia
6. Phoenix and Tempe
7. Denver and Boulder
8. Los Angeles
9. Chicago and Evanston
10. Washington
11. Pittsburgh
12. Houston
13. Tampa-St. Petersburg
14. Nashville
15. Lawrence, Kan.
16. Cleveland
17. Anaheim
18. Minneapolis-St. Paul
19. Atlanta
20. Salt Lake City and Provo
