The NFL regular season officially kicks off this week, and college football is already in full swing. For retirees who love their football, and who might be considering relocating to another city, this perfectly-timed article from Bankrate highlights the best retirement cities in the U.S. for football fans. Scoring the most points in a number of categories were cities such as Houston, Tampa, Tucson, Minneapolis, Nashville, Denver, Seattle, San Diego and Austin.
If your perfect idea of retirement involves lots of tailgating, you’re in luck. Bankrate has tapped its database to find cities that are not just good for retirees, but also for anyone who can’t get enough of America’s most popular sport.
Each city received points according to the number of college and professional teams that played there, and they were ranked based on other measurements including cost of living, crime rate, well-being, walkability, tax rates, weather, wellness and health care quality.
Houston wins the crown as the best city for football lovers for perhaps the most fitting reason of all: It’s stocked with football teams. College football fans can revel in the Houston Cougars, the Houston Owls, the Houston Baptist Huskies and the Texas Southern Tigers. At the NFL level, there’s the Houston Texans, who made it to the playoffs in 2011 and 2012. If that’s not enough for you, then consider this: The city will be hosting the 2017 Super Bowl.
If lying on a beach sounds like the best way to spend your retirement, then you may want to consider Tampa. With 18 beaches nearby and sunshine most days of the year, there’s rarely an excuse to not spend a day outside. Football fans can take in a Bulls game at the University of South Florida or visit Raymond James stadium, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 2002 NFL champions, play.
Tucson is one of the sunniest cities in the U.S., and it’s meant to be enjoyed outside. Tucson has plenty of opportunities to hike in nearby mountain ranges and in national parks. There are hundreds of miles of trails, and the city continues to add bike lanes and routes for bikers. Tucson also received one of the highest wellness scores among the cities in our ranking. The city is awash in University of Arizona red and blue as residents flock to Arizona Stadium to encourage the Wildcats to “Bear Down.”
Minneapolis has more than 20 lakes and wetlands, a park every 6 blocks (that’s 170 parks total), and about 200 miles of recreational pathways winding through the metro area. Minneapolis also has the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers, who compete in the Big Ten Conference, and the Minnesota Vikings, who have played in 4 Super Bowls. Vikings fans also have a new stadium to look forward to; it opens next year.
When it comes to entertainment, Nashville has something for everyone – especially budget-minded retirees. Tennessee has an affordable cost of living that falls below the national average and a favorable tax climate. Nashville is home to the Vanderbilt Commodores, the Tennessee State Tigers and the Tennessee Titans.
