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The 10 Most Expensive U.S. Cities for Sports Fans

It’s downright painful being a die-hard sports fan. You live and die by triumphant wins and heartrending losses. You lose years of precious sleep struggling through overtime or extra-inning night games that just won’t end. You spend more time and effort on maintaining your fantasy league standings than you do on anniversaries, kids’ parties, or attending funerals of beloved relatives. You face the indignity of squeezing yourself into team logo sweatshirts that haven’t fit properly since Obama’s first inauguration.

Perhaps most painful of all: the injury to your savings accounts! The average ticket to an NFL game costs $92.98, parking at an NFL stadium costs an average of $32.58, a cable package of unlimited access to NBA games starts at $199, and the average resale ticket price for Game 7 of the 2016 World Series reached $4,200 on the morning of the fateful tilt in Cleveland. Sports fanaticism does not come cheap.

Think you’ll save money and maximize time with the team you love by buying a home near its home field? Better check your 401(k) first. Homes within walking distance of a stadium are typically more expensive than the city norm.

Of course, other factors play a part in real estate. A home within walking distance of Madison Square Garden in Manhattan and a home within a foul ball of St. Louis’ Busch Stadium are vastly different on a price-per-square foot basis.

To find out where fandom is priciest, we ranked U.S. cities with at least one major league team by the following criteria:

1. How much it costs to attend a game—a regular ticket, a soft drink, a beer, a delicious hot dog, and parking, according to Team Marketing Report;
2. How much it costs to live near a stadium—the median price of homes within two miles of a stadium;
3. How much more it costs to live near a stadium, compared with the median price of the metro area.

Since football games are more expensive than baseball games on a per-ticket basis, we ranked the cities within each sport before calculating the overall ranking. We also compensated for the difference in numbers of teams per city.

The geography of pro sports can also be tricky. For this study, we went with the name on the team’s uniform, and not the suburban cities where some stadiums are located. Our analysis is based on Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) that include those suburbs. For example, for the purposes of our study, we considered New York City to be the home of the New York Jets and Giants, even though we know that they play in East Rutherford, NJ—because both cities are part of the New York City MSA.

Ready? Batter up! Kickoff! Jump ball! Anyway, let’s just go to the videotape.

1. Boston, MA

Median home prices near stadiums: $639,500 to $1.24 million

Median metro price: $479,900

The New England Patriots have the most loyal fans in football, according to Emory University researchers. Last year, Patriots fans shelled out $131 on average for a ticket, the second-highest among all NFL teams. With a $40 parking fee and $7.50 for some suds, associated costs can run up the score. One saving grace: The Patriots don’t actually play in Boston, but in the suburban town of Foxborough, where the median home price is cheaper than in Boston itself.

In contrast, a baseball game in Beantown may seem more affordable—until you realize that the Red Sox command the highest average ticket price ($55) in the league. But you’ll get to watch games with a historic backdrop: Fenway Park, built in 1912, is the oldest ballpark in baseball.

The Fenway neighborhood is filled with baseball-themed taverns and, lately, prime real estate. One new luxury apartment complex even features glassed-in rooftop “sky cabanas” overlooking the ballpark, which can be yours for $350,000. Before you get too excited, that price is on top of whatever you’re already paying for your residence.

Fun fact: Fenway Park’s famous Green Monster wasn’t painted green until 1947, 35 years after the ballpark’s opening.

2. New York, NY

Median home prices near stadiums: $165,000 to $1.85M

Median metro price: $425,000

Knicks fans have seen better times. The team hasn’t won an NBA championship since 1973, and has been stuck in a losing limbo since the Ewing era of the ’90s. But that doesn’t stop fans from paying $129, the NBA’s highest average price, for a game in Madison Square Garden, cheering for Derrick Rose while drinking $10.50 arena beer. (Much of the sold-out crowd these days watches from corporate-owned seats.) Since the Garden is in the middle of Manhattan, it’s no surprise nearby homes go for $1.85 million.

The Knicks and the Rangers are the last two teams standing in Manhattan. The Mets play in Queens, the Yankees play in the Bronx, and the Jets and the Giants moved to New Jersey decades ago. But they still all charge New York prices!

In Brooklyn, the $1 billion Barclays Center transformed a down-on-its-heels downtown neighborhood into a neon-lit nightlife destination. Homes near the arena have a median price tag of $1.36 million.

Fun fact: MetLife Stadium cost $1.6 billion to construct—the most expensive stadium ever built in the world. It was funded 100% by the Jets and the Giants, with zero public money. But, sadly, they are still losing.

3. Seattle, WA

Median home price near stadiums: $699,000

Median metro price: $432,500

CenturyLink Field won a Guinness World Record in 2013 for being the loudest open-air stadium in the world. Well, face facts: The Seahawks are worth cheering for. That’s probably why fans don’t mind paying $88 for a ticket and $50 to park. For an extra $15, you can take a bite of “The Beast”—a double-patty hamburger with a side of Skittles, in honor of the now-retired Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch.

Both the Seahawks and the Mariners play downtown, close to shops and restaurants. The area has changed significantly in recent years, with the construction of several luxury apartment projects, a hotel tower, and a office tower as part of the Stadium Place project.

Fun fact: In the team’s naming competition, “Seahawks” beat out some kooky suggestions from the locals, including “Seattle Running Salmon,” “Seattle Cool Dudes,” “Seattle Pachyderms,” and “Washington Georges.”

4. Chicago, IL

Median home prices near stadiums: $265,000 to $425,000

Median metro price: $260,000

Finally! After 108 years in the wilderness, the Cubs won the World Series this year. But you knew that already, right? What you may not know is these are some of the most devoted fans in all professional sports. Cubs zealots didn’t mind spending $51 per average ticket—the third most expensive price in MLB—even when the team was losing. And losing. Built in 1914, Wrigley Park is a perfect case study of a stadium integrated into an urban neighborhood. Wrigleyville features cute cafés and homes on tree-lined streets. Nearby building owners have converted their rooftops into pricey bleacher seating.

On the gridiron, an average Bears ticket costs $131, the highest in the league. And the Bears have implemented dynamic pricing—it costs more to see the team play their archrivals, the Green Bay Packers. Too bad “da Bears” have stumbled through the first half of the 2016 season. A Super Bowl Shuffle seems unlikely this year.

Fun fact: In its early days, Wrigley Field hosted a circus, and the big gate in right field is still known as “the elephant’s gate.”

5. Oklahoma City, OK

Median home price near stadium: $518,800

Median metro price: $219,500

In 2008, the Thunder was a freshly relocated team in a small market that had no history of supporting major pro sports. Eight years, one division championship, and numerous winning seasons later, the team is ingrained in OKC’s culture.

While no one would call OKC real estate expensive—the median list price is only $219,500—some of the city’s premium homes are close to Chesapeake Energy Arena, right in downtown.

Fun fact: Oklahoma City Thunder is the only NBA team to start each game with prayer.

6. San Diego, CA

Median home prices near stadiums: $545,000 to $895,000

Median metro price: $620,000

A Chargers ticket ($92) isn’t too pricey, but costs ramp up quickly when you add $25 in parking, $9 for a beer, and a $6 hot dog (or two!). A plan to build a new stadium in downtown was rejected by voters last week, leaving the team’s future in San Diego in doubt.

The Padres have been a middling squad, but Petco Park is one heckuva ballpark. It’s perfectly positioned in downtown, offering fantastic views of the city skyline—all under beautiful SoCal sunshine. Homes near Petco Park (mostly condos and apartments) ask $895,000, 44% higher than the metro median.

Fun fact: The Chargers have a winning record when they wear the alternate “powder-blue” jerseys—29-24 since the jerseys debuted in 1994.

7. San Francisco, CA

Median home prices near stadiums: $350,000 to $999,000

Median metro price: $830,000

With the backdrop of San Francisco Bay, AT&T Park has an unrivaled view. And craft beer to go with that $6 hot dog (do not forget the Gilroy garlic fries). Oh, and there are also the Giants, three-time World Series champions (2010, 2012, and 2014). Homes near AT&T Park aren’t cheap—it’s San Francisco, after all—with a median price of $999,000.

If anyone’s complaining about the Giants’ $36 average ticket price, consider the 49ers fans who pay $117 for a ticket and have to travel 40 miles south to watch a game. In 2014, the 49ers moved to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. And since most fans drive to the new stadium, parking costs a whopping $60, the second-highest parking fee in the NFL.

A Warriors ticket is worth $80 on average at face value, but resale prices have reached $335 in the secondary market, according to TicketIQ, due to the team’s extraordinary performance and star players.

Fun fact: Levi’s Stadium boasts the fastest stadium Wi-Fi, and apps that allow you to order food and beverages from your seat. This is Silicon Valley, after all.

8. Washington, DC

Median home prices near stadiums: $222,500 to $649,000

Median metro price: $425,000

The Redskins, the fifth most valuable NFL team ($2.95 billion) according to Forbes, command an average of $120 per ticket, the second-highest in the league. DC residents have fallen hard for the Nationals, too—a Curly W beard is a symbol of the team’s recent success.

Nationals Park is also a successful neighborhood transformation story. Prior to 2008, the Navy Yard neighborhood was a mix of industrial facilities, after-hours clubs, and vacant lots. After the $701 million ballpark went up, so did bars, restaurants, apartment buildings, and a waterfront park. Today, the median home price near the ballpark is $524,900, 24% higher than the Washington metro. FedExField is in Landover, MD, and a 2005 study by a University of San Diego researcher found that the new stadium boosted home values in the surrounding area.

Fun fact: Washington fans will soon welcome a new, soccer-specific stadium. The project will cost about $300 million.

9. New Orleans, LA

Median home prices near stadiums: $389,000 to $390,000

Median metro price: $254,500

On game days, everyone inside and outside the Superdome is wearing some form of black-and-gold gear to cheer for the Saints, the 2010 Super Bowl champions. Even though the team hasn’t made it back to the big game, star players like Drew Brees are enough to keep the ticket price high, at $91.

The Superdome’s event-hosting history is impressive: 10 Super Bowls, 5 NCAA Final Fours, and 4 BCS championship games. Looking to drown your sorrows after the game? Bourbon Street is only a 10-minute ride away. No wonder homes near the dome are 53% more expensive than the regional median.

Fun fact: The Saints didn’t make the playoffs until their 21st season.

10. Detroit, MI

Median home prices near stadiums: $326,900 to $372,800

Median metro price: $194,900

In case you’re wondering, high ticket prices are not the reason the Motor City is on the list.

Living near a sports stadium in Detroit does come at a premium. Downtown homes near Ford Field and Comerica Park are more than double the regional median price. And as the city emerges from a distressed housing market, downtown is seeing strong demand for affordable “luxury” residences. Sales of luxury homes have risen by 107% since 2008, according to an analysis we did for the Wall Street Journal. By contrast, the Pistons’ Palace is in an upscale suburb, so homes near the arena are pricier.

Fun fact: The park’s renowned singing hot-dog vendor, a fixture at games for 15 years, was fired in 2013, allegedly for his anti-ketchup stance. No, we are not making this up.

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