Usually, yes. Many professional sports players live in or near the city where their team is based, but they do not have to live inside the city itself.
For example, a player on a Los Angeles team may live in Los Angeles or a nearby community. A player on a New York team may choose to live in New York City or in a suburb within commuting distance. The same basic arrangement applies across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and other professional leagues.
However, professional athletes often have more flexibility than ordinary employees when choosing where to live. Some prefer to live close to the team’s training facility, while others choose a quieter suburb, a different nearby city, or a location that provides more privacy.
There are also exceptions. Some players maintain homes in multiple locations, spend part of the offseason somewhere else, or live farther away because of family, privacy, taxes, or personal preferences.
Why Do Sports Players Usually Live Near Their Teams?
The biggest reason is convenience.
Professional athletes have demanding schedules. They may need to attend:
- Team practices
- Workouts
- Meetings
- Games
- Medical appointments
- Team events
- Training sessions
- Media obligations
Living relatively close to the team’s facilities can make daily travel easier.
An NBA player, for example, may have frequent practices and home games during the season. An NFL player may have scheduled practices, meetings, and other obligations throughout the week.
A shorter commute can give an athlete more time to sleep, recover, eat, train, and spend time with family.
Do Players Have to Live in the Team’s City?
Usually, there is no general rule requiring a professional athlete to live within the city limits of the team’s name.
A team represents a city or metropolitan area, but the team’s actual facilities may be located in a nearby suburb.
This means an athlete can technically live outside the city while remaining close enough to attend practices and games.
For example, a team may be called after a major city even though its training facility or stadium is located in another municipality within the same metropolitan area.
The practical question for many players is therefore not, “Do I live inside the city?” but rather, “Can I conveniently get to work?”
Where Do Professional Athletes Usually Live?
Professional athletes have many of the same housing choices as other wealthy residents, although their budgets and privacy concerns can be very different.
Depending on the city, an athlete might live in:
- A downtown luxury apartment
- A condominium
- A suburban house
- A gated community
- A private estate
- A high-rise building
- A neighborhood close to the team’s facility
The choice often depends on personal preference.
Some players enjoy living in the center of a city because they like restaurants, entertainment, and an urban lifestyle. Others prefer large homes in quieter suburban areas.
Families can also influence the decision. A player with children may prioritize schools, space, privacy, and a manageable commute.
Do Athletes Live Near the Stadium?
Not necessarily.
The stadium or arena is only one part of a professional team’s daily operation.
Many teams have a separate practice or training facility. Players may spend considerably more time at the practice facility than at the stadium during a normal week.
As a result, an athlete may choose a home that is close to the training facility rather than close to the stadium.
This can be particularly useful during the regular season when practices and team meetings happen frequently.
Do NFL Players Live in the City They Play For?
Many NFL players live in or near their team’s metropolitan area during the season.
However, an NFL team’s stadium and practice facility may be located in different communities. Players generally need to be able to report to the team’s required activities on time rather than live within a particular city boundary.
NFL players also have unusual schedules. They may spend part of the week preparing for a game, then travel to another city for an away game.
During the offseason, their location can change considerably.
Some players train in other cities, return to their hometowns, or spend time at another property.
Do NBA Players Live in the City They Play For?
Many NBA players live near their team’s home arena or practice facility during the season.
Because NBA seasons involve frequent games and travel, location can be especially important.
A player might live in a luxury apartment or house within a reasonable commute of the team’s facilities.
NBA players can also have homes in multiple cities. Their offseason location may have little connection to the city where they play during the regular season.
Do MLB Players Live in the City They Play For?
Major League Baseball players often spend a significant amount of time in their team’s city during the season, particularly because the MLB schedule includes many home games.
However, players do not necessarily live directly in the city.
They may choose a nearby suburb or community within commuting distance of the ballpark and training facilities.
Baseball’s long season also means that players may spend a large portion of the year traveling between cities for road games.
Do NHL Players Live in the City They Play For?
Yes, many NHL players live in or around the metropolitan area represented by their team.
As with other professional sports, the player’s home does not necessarily have to be within the official city boundaries.
The availability of suitable housing, commute times, privacy, family considerations, and lifestyle preferences can all influence the decision.
Why Do Some Athletes Live Outside the City?
There are several reasons an athlete might choose to live outside the city where their team is based.
Privacy
Famous athletes can attract attention from fans and media. A quieter neighborhood may provide greater privacy.
Space
Some athletes have families and want larger homes, yards, private facilities, or additional rooms.
Security
A private or gated community may offer security features that are harder to find in a busy downtown neighborhood.
Family
A player’s spouse or children may have jobs, schools, or other commitments that influence where the family lives.
Commute
Sometimes a suburb offers the best combination of space and access to the team’s training facility.
Taxes
Taxes can also influence where high-income athletes choose to establish residency, although state and local tax rules are complicated.
A player should not assume that simply renting a home in another state changes their tax residency. Legal residency and domicile can involve several factors.
Do Sports Players Have More Than One Home?
Some do.
Highly paid professional athletes may own or rent homes in multiple locations. One property might be near the team’s facilities, while another could be in the player’s hometown or preferred offseason destination.
Having multiple homes can make sense for an athlete whose career requires frequent travel.
However, owning property somewhere does not automatically mean that the athlete is legally a resident of that location.
Tax residency, domicile, and other legal issues can involve more than simply owning a house.
Where Do Athletes Live During the Offseason?
The offseason gives players much more flexibility.
Some athletes return to their hometowns. Others remain near their team’s city because they continue training there.
Some choose locations based on weather. An athlete from a cold-weather city might spend the offseason somewhere warmer, while another player may prefer to remain close to family.
Athletes can also travel internationally or spend time at a second residence.
Their offseason location may therefore be completely different from their regular-season home.
What Happens When a Player Gets Traded?
A trade can create a major housing change.
When a player is traded to another team, the player may suddenly need to spend the season in a different metropolitan area.
The athlete might:
- Temporarily rent a property.
- Stay in a hotel or furnished residence.
- Find a permanent home.
- Relocate the family.
- Keep the previous home temporarily.
- Sell or rent out the previous property.
The best choice depends on the player’s contract situation, family circumstances, length of expected stay, and personal preferences.
A player who expects to remain with a new team for several years may eventually purchase a home, while someone facing an uncertain future may prefer to rent.
What Happens When a Player Is Traded Midseason?
A midseason trade can make relocation especially difficult.
The player may have to report to the new team quickly, leaving little time to find a permanent home.
In that situation, a temporary hotel, furnished apartment, or short-term rental can be practical.
The player’s family may move later after the athlete has settled into the new location.
This is one reason professional athletes can have housing arrangements that look very different from those of ordinary workers.
Do Athletes Stay in Hotels During the Season?
Yes, but usually when they are traveling for away games.
Professional teams commonly arrange team travel and accommodations for road trips.
An athlete generally does not move into a new permanent home every time the team plays somewhere else. Instead, the team travels to the opponent’s city and stays there temporarily.
After the game or road trip, the player returns to the team’s home area.
This is another reason why professional athletes need a primary home near their team’s base.
Do Athletes Live Where Their Team Is Based Even If They Are Injured?
Often, yes, particularly when they remain under contract and are receiving treatment or rehabilitation from the team’s medical staff.
An injured player may still have scheduled rehabilitation, workouts, meetings, and medical appointments.
However, some athletes may spend time elsewhere for specialized treatment or personal reasons, depending on the circumstances and team arrangements.
Do Free Agents Have to Live Anywhere?
Free agents generally have more flexibility because they are not currently tied to one team’s daily schedule.
A free agent might live in their hometown, train in another city, or spend the offseason wherever they prefer.
Once the athlete signs with a team, the situation changes. The player then needs to report to the team’s required activities and may choose to relocate closer to the team.
Do International Sports Players Move to the U.S.?
International athletes who sign with U.S. professional teams often spend substantial time in the team’s U.S. city or metropolitan area during the season.
For example, an international soccer player joining a U.S.-based club may establish a temporary or permanent residence near the club’s facilities.
The exact arrangement depends on the player’s contract, family situation, visa requirements, and career plans.
International players can also maintain homes in their home countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do sports players have to live in the city their team represents?
Usually, no. Players generally need to live close enough to attend required team activities, but they do not necessarily have to live within the official city limits.
Do professional athletes live near their stadium?
Some do, but many prioritize living near the team’s practice or training facility instead. The best location depends on the team’s facilities and the athlete’s preferences.
Do athletes live in expensive neighborhoods?
Some do, particularly athletes who earn high salaries and prioritize privacy, security, luxury, or space. Others choose more modest housing based on their personal preferences.
Do athletes move when they get traded?
Often, yes. A player may temporarily rent a home or stay in a hotel before deciding whether to make a permanent move.
Do athletes live in the city during the offseason?
Some do, while others return home, train elsewhere, travel, or stay at a second residence. There is no universal offseason living arrangement.
Can an athlete live in another state?
Yes, potentially. However, living in another state can create complicated tax and residency issues, especially for a high-income professional athlete.
Do players’ families live with them?
Many do, but not every athlete has the same family situation. Some players relocate their families, while others may maintain separate arrangements because of school, work, or other commitments.
The Bottom Line
So, do sports players live in the city they play for? Many professional athletes live in or near the metropolitan area where their team is based, but they do not necessarily live inside the city itself.
The most important consideration is usually access to the team’s training facility and other required activities. Players can choose apartments, houses, suburbs, gated communities, or other locations based on privacy, family needs, security, lifestyle, taxes, and convenience.
Professional athletes also frequently move during their careers. Trades, free agency, injuries, offseason training, and retirement can all change where they live.
In other words, being a player for a particular city does not mean an athlete has to live there. It usually means they need to be able to work there reliably, while choosing a home that fits their personal and professional life.