Touchdown Towns: Best Cities for the Big Game (2026)

January 29, 2026

Editor’s Note: This page has been updated with 2026 data, with revised city rankings.

When it comes to celebrating the biggest football game of the year, not all cities are created equal.

Whether you’re gathering with friends at a local bar, chowing down on pizza and drinks at home, or hosting your own watch party, some cities just know how to do it better.

But which cities are the most ideal for food, drinks, and fandom during football’s biggest Sunday of the year?

With the championship game right around the corner, we analyzed key metrics from cities across the country to determine which provide the ultimate game day experience. From food and drink accessibility to fan enthusiasm and safety, these are the cities that take football’s most-anticipated game of the year to the next level.

Our analysis included nine weighted metrics, including pizza accessibility (number of pizza restaurants), number of bars and sports bars, number of liquor stores, game day travel safety (traffic fatalities), food and beverage affordability, as well as fan enthusiasm (Google searches related to the game and number of times each city has hosted the championship game).

Key Highlights:

NOLA Ranks No. 1: New Orleans claims the number one spot as the best city to celebrate the Big Game. With 164 bars per 100,000 residents and a record 11 times as a host city, New Orleans sets the standard for game day festivities.
Top Cities to Celebrate: St. Louis, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Las Vegas round out the top five best cities, according to our analysis.
Game Day Watch Parties: In terms of game day watch party interest, Atlanta tops the list with 78,465 Google searches related to watch parties per 100,000.
Football Foodies: St. Louis is not only home to the most pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents but also leads the nation in searches for game day-related foods like wings, pizza, chips, and dips.

The Top Cities to Watch the Big Game

#1. New Orleans, LA

Known for its vibrant culture and love of celebration, New Orleans is the best city to watch all of the action thanks to its high number of bars (164 per 100,000), strong search interest for game day parties, and status as a frequent host of football’s biggest event, having hosted the game 11 times since 1970.

#2. St. Louis, MO

Despite no longer being home to an NFL team, St. Louis continues to take celebrating football very seriously. Since the Rams left St. Louis for Los Angeles in 2016, the city has been clamoring for football. In fact, St. Louis tops the list of cities searching the most for game day food, with 10,094 game day food-related searches per 100,000. With the highest search interest for game day food, St. Louis earns its spot as a foodie’s paradise for Big Game snacks and party prep.

#3. Atlanta, GA

Although the Falcons missed the playoff cut this season, Atlanta remains an ideal city to celebrate this year’s game year’s game because of its overwhelming enthusiasm (78,465 searches per 100,000) and a bustling bar scene (122 per 100,000). Having hosted the Big Game three times since 1994, and gearing up to host again in 2028, it’s a city that knows how to celebrate football in style.

#4. Cincinnati, OH

Although their season was cut short this year, Cincinnati can still take pride in residing within the top five best cities to celebrate this year’s game. Cincinnati combines passionate fans and strong game day food-related searches, making it an all-around contender for game day celebrations.

#5. Las Vegas, NV

When it comes to having a good time, you can’t go wrong in Las Vegas. With its warmer winter weather, buzzing nightlife, and thriving bar scene (161 bars per 100,000 residents), Vegas secures its spot as a premier destination for Big Game celebrations.

For the full rankings and the metrics behind them, see the interactive table below:

Football Foodies: Where Game Day Cravings Reign Supreme

Let’s face it, game day isn’t complete without the food.

We took a closer look to determine which cities are home to the most football foodies by analyzing Google search interest for terms related to food during the championship game. Our analysis included keywords and phrases such as “Super Bowl recipes”, “Super Bowl party food”, as well as variations that included “pizza”, “party”, “appetizers”, “chips”, “dips”, and others. When it comes to big game day appetites, a few cities rise above the rest.

From wings and nachos to pizza and dips, these cities know how to prep for a feast. St. Louis, in particular, stands out with a large volume of searches for game day recipes and food.

Big Game Anticipation: Watch Party Capitals

If you weren’t lucky enough to snag tickets to the game, joining in on a watch party is the next best way to get in on the action with fellow football fans.

According to our Google search analysis, no other city in the country is eager to join a watch party than Atlanta. We analyzed terms related to places to watch the Big Game, and Atlanta took the top spot with 78,465 searches per 100,000 residents.

Whether you’re in the heart of New Orleans or the party hubs of Atlanta and St. Louis, these cities are the ultimate destinations for celebrating football’s biggest stage. Which city will you be in for the Big Game?

Touchdown Towns: Best Cities for the Big Game (2025 Edition)

Note: The below rankings and analysis were originally published in January 2025 and are retained here for reference.

Methodology:

To determine our ranking, we analyzed key metrics from the 50 largest cities in the United States, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. We compared these cities across nine weighted variables: pizza accessibility (number of pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents), food and beverage affordability (average prices of pizza and a six-pack of beer), number of bars and sports bars per 100,000 residents, number of liquor stores per 100,000 residents, and game day travel safety (traffic fatalities per 100,000 residents). Additionally, we examined Google search data related to game day watch parties and food searches per 100,000 residents. Finally, we factored in the number of times each city has hosted the championship game

Key Metrics: How We Ranked the Cities

Game Day Food Searches (20 points)

Measures how often residents search for Big Game-related food and snacks, reflecting enthusiasm for game day preparations.

Watch Party Searches (20 points)

Assesses interest in communal viewing by analyzing searches for watch party venues, highlighting cities with strong social engagement.

Bars per 100,000 Residents (18 points)

Indicates the availability of popular spots for football fans to gather and celebrate, contributing to the game day atmosphere.

Pizza Restaurants per 100,000 Residents (12 points)

Reflects accessibility to one of the most popular game day foods, ensuring fans have plenty of dining options.

Affordability of Pizza and Beer (16 points total: 8 each)

Evaluates the average cost of 11-12 inch cheese pizza and a six-pack of beer, highlighting cities where fans can enjoy the Big Game without overspending.

Traffic Safety (8 points)

Measures traffic fatalities per capita to account for safe travel to and from game day gatherings.

Liquor Stores per 100,000 Residents (8 points)

Provides insight into accessibility for fans stocking up on beverages for home celebrations.

Host City Bonus (5 points)

Awards points to cities that have hosted the Big Game, emphasizing their experience and capacity to handle football’s biggest event.

By combining these metrics, we created a comprehensive ranking system that reflects the unique qualities each city brings to the Big Game experience.

While the Super Bowl is referred to within the methodology and search term analysis, this study is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NFL.

Sources: Yelp, U.S. Census Bureau; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS): Annual Report File (ARF); Council for Community and Economic Research