Boston Ranks Among Top 10 Cities for College Basketball Fans

With March Madness just a few weeks away, it turns out Boston isn’t just a pro-sports town—it’s got a strong showing in the college hoops world too. A new WalletHub report ranks Boston as the 10th best city in the country for college basketball fans this year.

WalletHub’s annual study looked at more than 290 U.S. cities and measured nine key factors, including team performance, stadium capacity, and fan engagement on social media. The goal was to find where college basketball fans can have the best experience, whether they’re grabbing tickets for a local game or just soaking in the atmosphere.

Boston scored especially well when it came to the number of Division I programs, coming in 9th nationally. The city also ranked 36th for national titles and 97th for affordability of season tickets. When ranking larger metros on their own, Boston landed 5th among big cities, showing it can hold its own even against powerhouse hoops markets.

The top spot went to Los Angeles, home of UCLA’s basketball dynasty and several other Division I schools, followed by other basketball hotspots across the nation.

In the report, WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the best college basketball cities tend to stand out for their “high-performing teams, affordable and accessible games, and strong fan engagement.” That definitely tracks for Boston, where schools like Boston College, Northeastern, and Harvard draw spirited student sections and loyal alumni fans who never tire of local sports.

And while Boston’s pro teams often grab the spotlight—especially come playoff season—March is when college hoops gets its moment. With 67 tournament games packed into three weeks, local bars, sports lounges, and watch parties across the city fire up a tournament energy that feels just as electric as any Celtics run.

Fans looking to dive deeper into the numbers can check out WalletHub’s full list at wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-college-basketball/32944.

Whether you’re cheering for Boston College or just filling out your bracket, one thing’s for sure: Boston’s basketball spirit isn’t just about the pros—it’s alive and well in the college game, too.