Root, root, root for the home team!

Life can be tough for diehard sports fans. If you’re team isn’t doing well, sometimes for years or even decades on end, you might find yourself wishing you lived in a city far, far away—with a team that’s actually playing well.

At the same time, there’s also nothing quite like the feeling when your city’s team is crushing the competition all season long. There’s a special camaraderie that only sports can bring, and it’s something that many Americans consider the heart of their city.

Philadelphia, PA

There’s no doubt it’s tough to be a Philly sports fan. Though there have been many ups and downs in the city’s sports history, fans are perhaps the most dedicated of any place in the country—and aren’t shy about giving disappointing players a jeering. In recent years it’s football fans that have been riding the high of Philly’s good fortune, with a first-ever NFL Championship win in 2018.

Boston, MA

With teams like the Celtics, Red Sox, and Patriots, New England sports fans have a lot to be excited about. It’s rare for any of these teams to have a particularly ugly season, and though only the Patriots have won a major championship in recent years, it’s the city’s rich history that makes it such a fun place to cheer on your favorite team.

Chicago, IL

Chicago is an amazing city, even without the sports. But its teams are really an integral part of the lifeblood of the Windy City, and the importance of sports is evident in the hearts of its fans. While most people associate Chicago with the Bears or White Sox, you can’t forget the Bulls, who, led by Michael Jordan from 1984–1993, and again from 1995–1998, gave basketball fans more than a decade’s worth of celebration.

Los Angeles, CA

You can really be any kind of sports fan in LA. The city has a number of winning teams across a number of sports, not to mention incredible stadiums and atmospheres at the game. Plenty of Hollywood stars can be found cheering on the sidelines, so a game isn’t just an opportunity to root for your favorite players but also to spot some of the city’s elite.