CHARLOTTE — Charlotte has been named one of the best cities for sports business.

The Sports Business Journal announced its inaugural list of the top cities for businesses operating in and around sports.

Charlotte was ranked third in the country, behind No. 1 Dallas and No. 2 New York. Minneapolis and Atlanta rounded out the top five. Sports Business Journal said their scoring for cities was based on three main criteria: opportunity, economic environment, and insights from industry decision-makers with a strong understanding of the sports business ecosystem.

Charlotte’s huge motorsports industry, large media footprint, and high level of positive sentiment from executives made the city a standout, according to SBJ.

Raleigh (22) and Greensboro (35) were the other North Carolina cities to make the list.

You can find the full top-50 list by clicking here.

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