Top 10 College Sports Towns...

by the spork on Feb 14, 2009 4:54 AM EST

The University of Michigan is most famous for its football team, the Wolverines, who play in the packed confines of the Big House, a stadium that holds 106,201 fans. Of course, with the way the Wolverines played this past season (their record was 3-9), it’s surprising that many people flocked to the stadium every Saturday.

Loyalty might explain it, though maybe it’s just fans’ motivation to visit Ann Arbor before and after the football game. Who can blame them? The small city of 114,000 boasts top-flight restaurants and bars, a symphony and ballet, as well as museums and concert halls hosting national-level entertainment.

And what full-time residents also know: Ann Arbor has great public schools, low crime and affordable housing. Not surprisingly, it all adds up to the highest rank on our list of best college towns. It beats out Palo Alto, Calif., home to Stanford, and Madison, Wis., home to the University of Wisconsin.

Whether for quality of life, business development or investment, it’s easy to understand the draw of college towns. The cities have a reputation for their wealth of arts and cultural events that spoke out from the university. Even though a college town like State College, Pa., or Charlottesville, Va., may not have the population of New York or Los Angeles, the strength of the university attracts top-flight entertainment options.

This is all from the article, Lexington comes in at #5 which I thought was pretty impressive. Link

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Agree On Ann Arbor

Erik Daniels’ uncle (Mike Taylor) was a star QB there in late 1980’s, early 1990’s.

I’ve been to the Big House with him for a couple of Purdue vs Michigan games there.

Outstanding atmosphere for college football.

I think the Top 10 list overlooked Austin TX (Univ of Texas) and Tempe AZ (Ariz St). Both should be on such a list.

by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 14, 2009 9:46 AM EST reply actions

don’t have an argument here being that the only city on the list that I’ve been to is Lexington. I just find it impressive that of all the great basketball towns and all the great football towns, we rank in their top 5.

I also love the fact that Louisville isn’t even on the list and that we rank higher than the only other SEC team on the list, Arkansas.

by the spork on Feb 14, 2009 12:17 PM EST up reply actions

Louisville

IMo isnt really a college town. Yeah UofL is the only school in town of note BUT campus is dirty and the city doesnt revolve around the school like Lexington does UK.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Feb 14, 2009 12:23 PM EST reply actions

Louisville isn't a college town

“because city doesnt revolve around the school”. Agreed. There is so much more here to do than college sports. (Besides a large number of the residents here are UK fans.) I think of a college town as being like Bloomington: without the college there would be no town. However, I do not think the UL campus is dirty at all. It is an urban campus but not dirty.

Don’t forget about the Bellermine Knights!

by LyricSmith on Feb 17, 2009 8:19 AM EST up reply actions