Denver / Teri Virbickis / Shutterstock.com
By Jon Whitely; reposted with permission from Redfin
To kick off the football season, Redfin presents the best NFL cities for pregaming on gameday. After all, nothing beats heading to the stadium and cheering on your favorite team in person (while phones have made tracking your fantasy football team easier than ever). We ranked NFL cities by:
- The stadium’s Walk Score – It’s good to be close to restaurants and shops in case you have errands to run or people to see before or after the game.
- Bars near the stadium – It never hurts to make a couple pit stops before entering the stadium, so we ranked stadiums based on the number of bars in the same ZIP code, according to our Walk Score data.
- Aggravated assaults in the city per 100,000 people according to the Marshall Project – Football teams have a great sense of community, but fans on losing teams don’t always play nice. We rewarded places where there were fewer aggravated assaults in the city, so that a visiting fan can enjoy a fun atmosphere and safely celebrate their team’s victory.
- Fanbase rank according to sports analyst Mike Lewis – loyalty and dedication to a football team is a beautiful thing, so we took Mike Lewis’s brilliant analysis of NFL fanbases and ranked the teams accordingly.
Redfin real estate agents played safety, weighing in on their cities’ gameday experiences to ensure the list was accurate and there were no Hail Marys.
The Seattle Seahawks earned the top seed, thanks to CenturyLink Field being located in Pioneer Square, a rebounding neighborhood with plenty of wine-and-dine options. The Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints finished out the top five. Perhaps most surprisingly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came in at number eight, due to the convenient downtown location of Raymond James Stadium and the nearby parks.
Here’s the full list:
1. Seattle Seahawks – CenturyLink Field
Stadium Walk Score: 83
Bars nearby: 25
Aggravated Assaults per 100,000 people: 340.36
Fanbase Rank: 13
“The streets of Seattle are filled with the 12 and we’re out early and often to help gather strength and root on our team. There’s a real sense of community on gameday. Many bars, restaurants and shops surround CenturyLink. You won’t find a louder venue; we often cause minor earthquakes with the stadium noise!” – Collin Horn, Redfin real estate agent in Seattle
2. Denver Broncos – Sports Authority Field
Stadium Walk Score: 69
Bars Nearby: 14
Aggravated Assaults per 100,000 people: 416.02
Fanbase Rank: 3
“Denver should also be considered the defending Super Bowl champions of tailgating and pregaming, because we take it to the next level. You’ll find plenty of food and beer in the parking lot outside the stadium, and fans arrive early to make gameday an experience. We also have amazing craft beer in the area, too!” – Jim Titus, Redfin real estate agent in Denver
3. Green Bay Packers – Lambeau Field
Stadium Walk Score: 40
Bars Nearby: 21
Aggravated Assaults per 100,000 people: 393.8
Fanbase Rank: 11
“Historic Lambeau Field is a destination every football fan should see, and our pregame experience is worthy of the legendary stadium where our beloved Packers play. You’ll find people starting the festivities as early as sunrise and sticking around Green Bay long after the game has ended. Often times, so many people book hotel rooms for gameday celebrations that some have to book in Oshkosh and Appleton if they don’t plan ahead!” – Ashley Lamb, Redfin real estate agent in Wisconsin
T4. Dallas Cowboys – AT&T Stadium
Stadium Walk Score: 51
Bars Nearby: 2
Aggravated Assaults per 100,000 people: 313.6
Fanbase Rank: 2
“We do everything bigger and better in Texas, so it makes sense that the Cowboys rank so highly! There’s plenty of parking around the stadium for tailgaters, and Cowboy nation extends far beyond North Texas. AT&T Stadium is the house that Jerry built to honor the Cowboys, and it becomes a second home to many of us on Sundays as we cheer on America’s team!” – Chelsey Hooton, Redfin real estate agent in Dallas
T4. New Orleans Saints – Mercedes Benz Superdome
Stadium Walk Score: 69
Bars Nearby: 8
Aggravated Assaults per 100,000 people: 431.4
Fanbase Rank: 8
“There’s a reason New Orleans has hosted the Big Game ten times, and it’s because our gameday experience is second to none. The Superdome is in the heart of downtown, a short walk to many historic bars, and it has easy access to Bourbon Street and St. Charles Avenue. No other city can offer our combination of live music, food that’s grilled to perfection and expert tailgating.” – Caren Morgan, Redfin real estate agent in New Orleans
6. Chicago Bears – Soldier Field
Stadium Walk Score: 50
Bars Nearby: 18
Aggravated Assaults per 100,000 people: 481.04
Fanbase Rank: 7
“Bears fans have a lot of pride, not just in their team, but also in their tailgating. It’s not uncommon for a prime tailgating parking spot to sell for more than $500, some as much as $1,500 — and that’s just the spot, not to get into the game itself. When you get there, you’ll see why. People do serious grilling, including ribs, wings, shrimp — the works. And you’ll see flat-screen TVs, plenty of camaraderie and entertainment. Music will be blasting, there are always plenty of beers and shots. And don’t forget to check out Fiesta Bob, a staple of the local tailgating scene.” – Tim Zielonka, Redfin real estate agent in Chicago
7. Baltimore Ravens – M&T Bank Stadium
Stadium Walk Score: 68
Bars Nearby: 23
Aggravated Assaults per 100,000 people: 737.43
Fanbase Rank: 9
“Baltimore parking lots are filled with people playing flip cup, beer pong and corn hole before the game. The stadium is downtown, in walking distance to the Inner Harbor and Fed Hill, and has a lot of options for those who would rather grab a quick bite to eat and a drink in a bar setting. Just don’t be late to the game!”– Chris Calabretta, Redfin real estate agent in Baltimore
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Raymond James Stadium
Stadium Walk Score: 86
Bars Nearby: 9
Aggravated Assaults per 100,000 people: 424.5
Fanbase Rank: 24
“Tampa Bay is often overlooked as a pregame destination, but our weather is amazing, and there are fields upon fields of tailgaters surrounding the stadium on gameday. We have the highest stadium Walk Score, so there’s plenty to see and do before the game. The stadium itself also provides a ton of entertainment: fans can enjoy The Talon Pub, AAA Ravens Walk and the Bud Light Party Zone.”– Wendy Peterson, Redfin real estate agent in Tampa
T9. Cleveland Browns – FirstEnergy Stadium
Stadium Walk Score: 53
Bars Nearby: 23
Aggravated Assaults per 100,000 people: 425.83
Fanbase Rank: 23
“Most Clevelanders share an intense loyalty to our sports teams and the rituals of tailgating on Sundays. Whether you’re in the Pit or the Muni lot, your tailgate neighbor will offer plenty of unique food options on gameday. Our “beer-can chicken” is a famous gameday staple and there are plenty of watering holes located around the stadium for those who want to track their fantasy teams while they gear up for the game.” – Joe Rath, Redfin real estate agent in Cleveland
T9. San Francisco 49ers – Levi Stadium
Stadium Walk Score: 23
Bars Nearby: 7
Aggravated Assaults per 100,000 people: 317.89
Fanbase Rank: 4
“Few teams have history on their side like the 49ers, and we make sure to show our support each gameday to honor the greats like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott. C&J’s Sports bar is only five minutes from Levi’s Stadium, and they have amazing drink specials on gameday. It’s a can’t-miss spot!”– Mark Biggins, Redfin real estate agent in San Francisco