Study names Ohio ‘best state for sports lovers’

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio is the best state in America for those who enjoy sports, according to a recent study. 

SmileHub, a nonprofit that helps users find and donate to charities, compared all 50 states across 20 key metrics, including their number of professional and college sports teams, sports bars per capita and championship wins. 

The study sourced its data from a variety of government agencies, professional and college sports teams, and private businesses. 

Ohio came out on top as the best state for sports fans in the country. The Buckeye State has a high number of sports-related jobs per capita and large number of professional sports teams, the study found. 

“Ohio earned the top spot in sports-loving states, thanks to an exceptionally strong mix of fan engagement, athletic success and career opportunities,” said Luke Powers, a SmileHub business manager. 

Ohio also had the most sports bars per capita, the fifth-most professional teams and the sixth-most college championship wins, according to Powers. 

“Add in legal sports betting and strong access to youth camps and scholarships, and it’s clear why Ohio is a well-rounded sports powerhouse,” he said. 

Coming in at No. 2 was New York, which ranked high thanks to strong fan interest and a large number of sports-related charities. Rounding out the top five were Illinois, California and Indiana. 

Hawaii ranked as the worst state for sports fans, followed by Alaska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Idaho. 

“These states struggle across the board, with low scores in sports interest, limited access to facilities, and fewer career opportunities in the industry,” Powers said. “Hawaii, in particular, ranks last in every major category, making it the toughest place for sports lovers.”

SmileHub’s full study can be found here.