Have you ever wondered which metro areas in North America have the most representation in the ‘Big 4’ leagues – the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL? A recent analysis sheds some light on this question, and the results are fascinating.
Using metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) as defined by the US Office of Management and Budget and census metropolitan areas (CMAs) as defined by Statistics Canada, the study reveals some interesting trends. For instance, Sacramento recently gained an interim MLB team, making it the only change from 2024 to 2025.
Green Bay stands out as the smallest metro area with at least one Big 4 team, while Riverside (Inland Empire) is the largest metro without one. If we were to combine Riverside with Los Angeles, like we do with the Bay Area (San Francisco and San Jose), then Austin would be the largest metro without a Big 4 team.
Denver is notable for being the smallest metro area with at least one Big 4 team from every league. On the other hand, Houston is the largest metro area that doesn’t have at least one Big 4 team from every league.
These insights offer a unique glimpse into the geographic distribution of North America’s most popular sports leagues. It’s a reminder that sports teams can have a profound impact on the identity and culture of a city or region.
What do you think about these findings? Do you have any favorite teams or metro areas that you think deserve more representation in the Big 4 leagues?