LoyalFansUSA ranks American sports cities according to decades of heartbreak, disappointment, and perseverance across the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL.
The rankings are based on a proprietary Misery Index that evaluates every city over a rolling 40-season window.
The current rankings include seasons from 1987 through 2026.
A sports city consists of all major professional franchises representing a metropolitan area.
Examples include:
Detroit (Lions, Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings)
Boston/New England (Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins)
Bay Area (49ers, Giants, Athletics, Warriors, Sharks)
Cities are grouped into canonical markets to account for franchises that represent the same metropolitan area.
Cities are divided into two categories:
Cities with three or more major professional franchises.
Cities with two or fewer major professional franchises.
To qualify:
Big markets must accumulate at least 75 team-seasons.
Small markets must accumulate at least 20 team-seasons (sorry Las Vegas and Oklahoma City).
These thresholds help reduce distortions caused by small sample sizes.
Teams earn misery points based on regular-season success or failure.
Poor records, last-place finishes, and prolonged losing increase a city's misery.
Making the playoffs reduces misery.
Consistent postseason appearances are rewarded, even if championships are not won.
Reaching a league championship series or final further reduces misery.
Winning a championship provides the greatest relief.
Cities are penalized for extended championship droughts.
The longer a city goes without a title, the greater the penalty.
Recent championships count more than distant championships.
A title won last season provides more relief than one won thirty years ago.
LoyalFansUSA uses a rolling 40-season window.
Each year, the newest completed season is added and the oldest season drops out of the rankings.
This allows the rankings to remain contemporary while preserving historical perspective.
Data were compiled from official league records and historical databases, including:
NFL
MLB
NBA
NHL
Basketball Reference
Baseball Reference
Pro Football Reference
Hockey Reference
LoyalFansUSA is intended to celebrate the resilience and loyalty of sports fans.
Sports misery is measured with affection, humor, and deep respect for the fan bases that continue to support their teams through triumph and heartbreak alike.