The age-old Soccer City USA debate is one that’s almost impossible to quantify.
Does it come down to the success of a city’s professional club? Youth soccer participation rates? World Cup TV ratings? Or is it merely which city has the best soccer bars?
We could go on and on. And whatever MLS city you’re in – or USL, NASL, college or on down the line, for that matter – we’re sure you have your case.
Well, the folks at WalletHub.com took a more scientific approach to the debate, identifying 18 relevant metrics, including some of those listed above as well as things like accessibility to college soccer, ticket prices, most engaged fans, to come up with a ranked list of the 172 most populated cities in the country.
The winner? Salt Lake City. Rejoice, Real Salt Lake fans. The next four on the list weren’t even MLS cities, oddly enough. Sounders-crazed Seattle came in sixth, followed by Kansas City. Washington, D.C. (9th) and Dallas (10th) round out the top 10.
Interestingly enough, Portland, full of its infamously rabid Timbers and Thorns fans, came in at 23rd.
Where does your city rank? Does it accurately reflect its passion for the game? Let us know in the comment section below.
Source:
WalletHub
