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10 Most Fun Places to Live for Sports Fans

By U.S. News & World Report

The U.S. News Best Places Data Drill Down, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that sheds light on multiple data points in order to help readers make the most informed decision when choosing where to live in the United States. Visit our 2016 Best Places to Live ranking to see which of the 100 most populous metro areas made it to the top of the list based on good value, desirability, a strong job market and a high quality of life.

Each year, millions of dedicated sports fans make it their duty to support their favorite professional teams, whether it means attending home games, competing in fantasy leagues or frequenting their local sports bars.

However, not all metro areas are created equal when it comes to accommodating sports fans.

To identify the most fun places to live for sports fans, we evaluated the accessibility to professional sports, one of the factors we considered as part of our methodology for the Most Fun Places to Live ranking. In order to determine which metro areas were most accommodating to sports fans, we looked at the number of professional sports represented in the area, the availability of venue seating per 1,000 residents, attendance rates for games and the social media following of local teams.

[Read: 10 Most Fun Places to Live if You Love the Outdoors.]

Professional sports teams do more for a metro area than unite its residents in fandom — they also boost the local economy. Neighborhoods in the vicinity of sports venues draw visitors who spend money in local businesses, which spurs additional commercial development and ultimately raises the value of nearby homes.

Here are the top 10 metro areas to live in if you’re a professional sports fan.

10. Cleveland

Being a Cleveland sports fan hasn’t always been easy. Up until the start of 2016, this metro area experienced a half-century-long championship drought. However, the return of Cleveland’s poster boy, professional basketball star LeBron James, to the Cleveland Cavaliers has helped bring that dry spell to an end. The Cavs beat the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals, landing Cleveland its first championship since the Cleveland Browns won the 1964 NFL championship game.

9. San Francisco

The San Francisco Bay Area is a hot spot for sports fans. The San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders have eight Super Bowl championships between them, and according to ESPN, this football season is looking promising. Although the 49ers have faced many challenges, their new coach, Chip Kelly, has kept them on a steady path to success. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants have won three World Series in the past six years.

8. Miami

Miami heat doesn’t just refer to the weather — it’s also the name of one of Miami’s hottest professional sports teams. Though the Miami Heat recently lost their franchise leader, Dwyane Wade, to the Chicago Bulls, Miami basketball fans are optimistic about the 2016-2017 season. Not only is there heat on the court, it’s also on the ice. The Florida Panthers also have a promising future after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2015-2016 Atlantic Division title.

[Read: 10 Best Places to Live for Foodies.]

7. Philadelphia

Raw passion is what fuels the sports fans in Philadelphia. And one thing’s for sure: Philadelphia fans are nothing if not dedicated. Even though they’ve garnered a negative reputation among other sports followers for being too loud and rowdy, fans of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles will brave below-freezing temperatures to support their team (even though they have yet to bring home a Super Bowl win). And the Phillies’ mascot, the Phillie Phanatic, is one of baseball’s most beloved.

6. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is home to five major professional sports teams: basketball’s Dallas Mavericks, baseball’s Texas Rangers, hockey’s Dallas Stars, soccer’s FC Dallas and football’s Dallas Cowboys. Football fans have been spoiled in recent years by the Cowboys’ new, state-of-the-art sports venues. The team moved to AT&T Stadium in 2009, and game attendees were wowed by the facility’s retractable roof and $40 million video display. The team also received a new practice facility and world headquarters; The Star, located in Frisco, Texas, is estimated to be worth more than $1.5 billion.

5. Denver

This year started off great for Denver sports fans, with the Denver Broncos defeating the Carolina Panthers at the 2016 Super Bowl. But Mile High City residents have more than football at their fingertips. Sports fans have access to five major professional teams, including Major League Baseball’s Colorado Rockies, who play home games in downtown Denver’s Coors Field.

4. Boston

With a total of 35 championships won, Boston sports fans have earned the right to brag. Beantown has had a long-lasting love of sports, and fans can root for the home team in a number of settings, from the soccer field to the hockey arena. Baseball fans can enjoy a hot dog and a game at the Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park, a place the team has called home since 1912. And supporters of football’s New England Patriots can cheer on Boston icon Tom Brady at Gillette Stadium.

[Read: 10 Most Fun Places to Live if You Love to Shop.]

3. New York City

Being home to the headquarters of all five professional sports organizations (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS), and the metro area with the largest number of professional sports championships to its name, New York City’s appearance on this list is a no-brainer. The area is home to some of the most iconic, and expensive, stadiums ever built. The $1.6 billion MetLife Stadium in nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey, houses the New York Jets and New York Giants NFL teams. Yankee Stadium in the Bronx opened in 2009, and the original stadium was home turf to some of baseball’s most famous players, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio.

2. Chicago

Chicago is another metro area with a diverse sports scene and professional teams from the five major sports leagues. One of the most notable teams in Chicago is baseball’s Chicago Cubs, who play at Wrigley Field. Cubs fans can sympathize with Cleveland residents, as their team has not won a World Series since 1908. Basketball’s Chicago Bulls have had better luck; with help from the legendary Michael Jordan, the team won six championships in the 1990s. Football’s Chicago Bears have won one Super Bowl, in 1985.

1. Los Angeles

For sports fans seeking variety, Los Angeles is home to nearly 10 professional sports teams, including its newest team, the Los Angeles Rams. The NFL team relocated from St. Louis earlier this year. A new stadium is being built for the Rams in Inglewood, California, and is scheduled to be completed by 2018. The Rams have a lot to live up to, as Los Angeles has one of the highest numbers of championship titles of any metro area in the country. The NBA’s Lakers have won 16 titles since 1949, although the first five came when they were based in Minneapolis.

More from U.S. News

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10 Most Fun Places to Live if You Love to Shop

10 Most Fun Places to Live for Sports Fans originally appeared on usnews.com

Correction 09/22/16: A previous version of this story misstated the name of the championship won by the Cleveland Browns in 1964.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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