New Jersey’s beloved Ivy League University has always topped just about every college ranking. Now, its hometown is being recognized for its lively college sports scene, too.
WalletHub compared 400 cities across more than 50 metrics related to the five largest sports in the U.S.: football, baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey to rank the country’s best large, medium and small sports cities. Princeton ranked in the Top 10 among small sports cities at No. 8 and placed 48th overall in the rankings.
“This is a notable achievement, especially given its size, and is largely because of Princeton University’s lively college sports scene, affordable events, and loyal local fans,” WalletHub writer and analyst Chip Lupo tells New Jersey Family. “Princeton’s high placement for a small city illustrates how even communities without major league teams can foster a vibrant sports culture that engages fans.”
Watching football is a cherished tradition at Princeton, where the Tigers play home games at Powers Field at Princeton Stadium. The Tigers are the winningest team in the Ivy League with 13 Ivy League championships. Princeton is also known for basketball, soccer, rowing, lacrosse and fencing.
Here’s how WalletHub ranked the best large, medium and small sports cities:
| Best Large Sports Cities |
| 1. Los Angeles, CA |
| 2. Boston, MA |
| 3. Pittsburgh, PA |
| 4. New York, NY |
| 5. Dallas, TX |
| 6. Miami, FL |
| 7. Philadelphia, PA |
| 8. San Francisco, CA |
| 9. Washington, DC |
| 10. Cincinnati, OH |
| Best Midsize Sports Cities |
| 1. Green Bay, WI |
| 2. Buffalo, NY 3. Glendale, AZ |
| 4. Tuscaloosa, AL |
| 5. Salt Lake City, UT |
| 6. Ann Arbor, MI |
| 7. Tallahassee, FL |
| 8. Durham, NC |
| 9. Baton Rouge, LA |
| 10. Fargo, ND |
| Best Small Sports Cities |
| 1. Clemson, SC |
| 2. West Point, NY |
| 3. Fayette, MS |
| 4. State College, PA |
| 5. Stillwater, OK |
| 6. Hanover, NH |
| 7. Morgantown, WV |
| 8. Princeton, NJ |
| 9. Grambling, LA |
| 10. Buies Creek, NC |
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