National Football League

Atlanta named most miserable sports city

Published Feb. 29, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Fueled by the Braves' late-season collapse and the Thrashers leaving town, Atlanta has reclaimed the top spot on Forbes' annual list of most miserable sports cities.

Last year's "winner," Seattle, came in second on the list, followed by Phoenix, Buffalo and San Diego.

Also contributing to Atlanta's sports woes in 2011 were the Falcons and Hawks making early-round playoff exits, pushing the city's championship drought to 17 years.

The magazine explained that it ranks the cities based not only on losing over a long period, but also on the amount of heartbreak a city's fans endure in a given year.

To be considered, sports cities must have "at least 75 total seasons of NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB play," Forbes said.

"Over the past year, Atlanta fans have watched their hockey team leave for Winnipeg, their baseball team blow the playoffs on the final day, and their football and basketball teams bow out early in the playoffs. It's enough to nudge the city past Seattle back into the top spot," according to Forbes.

The Braves were up 8.5 games in the wild-card race in early September, only to blow the lead to the eventual champion St. Louis Cardinals, losing five straight to end the season.

Atlanta was also ranked as the most miserable city for sports fans in 2008.

Seattle ranks second, in large part because the city must watch the Oklahoma City Thunder — formerly the SuperSonics until they left town in 2008 — lead the Western Conference behind superstar Kevin Durant.