The Red Cedar Rowdies cheer for the Spartans Oct. 11, 2014, during a game against Wisconsin at DeMartin Soccer Stadium at Old College Field. The Spartans defeated the Badgers, 2-1. Erin Hampton/The State News
East Lansing is the 17th best soccer city in the U.S., according to wallethub.com's 2015 rankings.
East Lansing was the highest of all Michigan cities ranked. The city was followed by Kalamazoo at No. 77, Rochester at No. 81, Ann Arbor at No. 87 and Detroit at No. 163.
For the ranking, the 172 most populated U.S. cities with at least one college or professional soccer team for the year 2015 were compared.
A total of 18 key metrics were analyzed, ranging from the average ticket price for an MLS game to stadium accessibility to the number of championship wins. The metrics were categorized into two main groups, teams and performances and cost and fan engagement.
Peter Alegi, history professor at MSU and author of "Laduma!: Soccer, Politics and Society in South Africa,” said it is apparent this ranking is based heavily on presence and play of college and professional soccer teams as well as friendliness and engagement of fans.
East Lansing being ranked high might come as no to surprise to Spartan soccer fans, as the team has played in back-to-back Elite Eight games in the NCAA Tournaments, falling to Providence last season and Notre Dame the year before.
The team has gained support and fan engagement from the student section, Red Cedar Rowdies, over the past years.
Alegi said he would have been more interested in the rankings if youth soccer participation and quality of youth soccer programs were taken into account.
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