ride-or-die fans

Dallas cheered on as 5th best sports city in America for 2024

Dallas Cowboys fans are more dedicated than any other sports team.

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There's no denying Dallas is home to some of the most supportive sports fanbases, and a new report has confirmed the city's dedication to its teams. The home of the (3-6) Cowboys ranks as the No. 5 best sports city in America this year, according to a newly released report by WalletHub.

Every year, WalletHub compares 400 U.S. cities for its "Best Sports Cities" report, relying on previous rankings across five different sports categories: Football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and hockey.

Los Angeles is 2024's No. 1 best sports city in America, followed by Boston (No. 2), Pittsburgh (No. 3), and New York (No. 4).

Dallas has maintained its No. 5 ranking for the third year in a row since 2022, earning a score of 43.20 points out of a possible 100.

The city performed the best in the football category after it earned the coveted No. 2 spot in WalletHub's previous report that ranked the best and worst cities for football fans in 2024.

Dallas is pretty serious about its dedication to football, and the Cowboys are well known for having one of the most ride-or-die fanbases year after year. Cowboys fans are also crazy about making every tailgate just as memorable (and expensive) as each home game.

All this, despite the fact that the 'boys have yet to win a home game, and chances are not getting much better with quarterback Dak Prescott's recent season-ending injury.

"Even with technology making major televised games accessible from anywhere, many serious fans still prefer live action — and the best seats in the house," the report said.

Additionally, WalletHub said U.S. sports franchises earn about $40 billion in annual revenue, and America's most valuable team is worth a record-breaking $9 billion. The Cowboys have consistently topped Forbes’ annual ranking of NFL team valuations for 17 years.

Thankfully, Dallas also has the Mavericks and Stars, both of which made deep runs toward championships last season. And the Texas Rangers, of course, who won the World Series in 2023. Here's how Dallas stacked up among the four other sports categories:

No. 15 – Basketball rank
No. 17 – Hockey rank
No. 22 – Soccer rank
No. 258 – Baseball rank

Elsewhere in Texas, only two other cities made it into the top 100. Houston ranked No. 23, and San Antonio came in at No. 40.

"Sports can cause rivalries between cities, but can also give people a deep appreciation for places other than their hometown," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.

The top 10 best sports cities in America are:

No. 1 – Los Angeles, California
No. 2 – Boston, Massachusetts
No. 3 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
No. 4 – New York, New York
No. 5 – Dallas, Texas
No. 6 – Miami, Florida
No. 7 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
No. 8 – San Francisco, California
No. 9 – Washington, D.C.
No. 10 – Cincinnati, Ohio

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Avid fans of Dallas sports and Dallas food won't want to miss all the action at CultureMap's exciting sports bash, The Tailgate presented by Verizon, which is coming up on December 9 at the Empire Room. Tickets are available now.

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Roller Coaster News

Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington retires 2 roller coasters for newbie

Six Flags

La Vibora roller coaster at Six Flags, RIP.

Amusement park operator Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is investing more than $1 billion in its theme parks over the next two years, with an array of enhancements for Six Flags Over Texas that include a record-breaking dive roller coaster, slated to launch at the Arlington theme park in 2026.

Hurricane Harbor Arlington will also receive the largest investment in its history, with the introduction of a massive interactive kids area, Splash Island.

Waterparks and water features have become an increasingly popular category, aided by technological advancements such as man-made surf machines. According to a report by Hotel & Leisure Advisors, 16 indoor waterparks opened or expanded in 2023, and 12 new outdoor waterparks opened. The largest new outdoor waterpark of the year was Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, featuring 11 slides, a lazy river, pools, and swim-up bars.

“Six Flags is dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences and will be implementing a wide array of enhancements throughout the property. Our park's multi-year expansion plans will bring major investments including cutting-edge thrill rides, revitalized family experiences, elevated dining and expanded events,” says the park's president Richard Douaihy in a statement.

And now the sad news. To make room for the all-new dive coaster they're installing at Six Flags, they're retiring two roller coasters:

La Vibora, a steel bobsled-style roller coaster, which opened in 1986
El Diablo, known as a giga loop coaster, which has been in operation since 2019

The rides’ retirement enables the park to make way for a new generation of thrill machines in the Spain section of the park.

'We understand that saying goodbye to beloved rides can be difficult, and we appreciate our guests' passion. These changes are an important part of our growth and dedication to delivering exceptional new experiences. We look forward to sharing more details this summer,” Douaihy says.

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