The most expensive US cities for sports fans (2026)
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Get your wallets ready.
Based on average game day spend across the four major US sports leagues, the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, San Francisco ranks as the most expensive city in the country for sports fans, with typical costs regularly exceeding $225 per person per game before merchandise.
Tagvenue’s analysis looked at the typical costs fans face when attending major sporting events, including the average regular-season ticket price, a 16oz beer, hot dog, popcorn or chips, stadium parking and official team merchandise. These figures were averaged across the city’s major league fixtures to reflect what fans actually spend when attending high-demand events such as NFL Sundays, NBA rivalry games and MLB summer fixtures.
San Francisco’s position at the top of the ranking is driven by a combination of high ticket demand across leagues, premium concession pricing and some of the highest event-day parking fees in US sport, with NFL parking alone frequently exceeding $130 per game. When these costs are combined, attending live sport in San Francisco consistently costs fans significantly more than in any other major US sports city.
Top 10 most expensive cities to watch live sport in the US (per game)
San Francisco – $225+
New York – $215+
Las Vegas – $210+
Los Angeles – $205+
Boston – $198+
Chicago – $192+
Miami – $188+
Seattle – $185+
Denver – $182+
Dallas – $178+
Cities at the top of the ranking typically share the same traits: multiple major league teams, high ticket demand, premium parking fees and destination-driven pricing, particularly for NFL and NBA games.
In San Francisco, for example, NFL parking alone can exceed $130, while New York and Los Angeles fans face consistently high ticket prices across multiple leagues.
Where Fans Get the Best Value
At the other end of the scale, cities such as Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit and Pittsburgh remain far more affordable for live sport, with fans often spending $60 - $70 less per game compared to top-tier markets.
These cities benefit from lower parking costs, more accessible ticket pricing and fewer tourism-driven mark-ups, even when teams are performing well.