Step 1 :Calculate the number of cities that had only a professional sports team by subtracting the number of cities that had a professional sports team and a symphony, and the number of cities that had a professional sports team and a children's museum, from the total number of cities that had a professional sports team. Then add back the cities that had all three activities. The calculation is: \(17 - 9 - 7 + 4 = \boxed{5}\) cities.
Step 2 :Calculate the number of cities that had a professional sports team and a symphony, but not a children's museum, by subtracting the number of cities that had all three activities from the number of cities that had a professional sports team and a symphony. The calculation is: \(9 - 4 = \boxed{5}\) cities.
Step 3 :Calculate the number of cities that had a professional sports team or a symphony by adding the number of cities that had a professional sports team and the number of cities that had a symphony. Then subtract the cities that had both. The calculation is: \(17 + 14 - 9 = \boxed{22}\) cities.