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7/1/09

Franchise Rankings for Every Pro Sports Team (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL)

Franchise Rankings For Every Pro Sports Team. Somehow The Clippers Were Worse Than The Lions.

Sports, Franchise Rankings

100%InjuryRate

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ESPN has apparently been doing an ultimate franchise ranking system every year for the last 7 years. I had no idea about this. But anyway, they do. I'm not sure that this is really anything more than just totally subjective BS, but whatever, any excuse to make fun of the Lions works for me.

So, what did ESPN base their rankings on?

Bang For The Buck (BNG): Wins during the past three years (regular season plus postseason) per revenues directly from fans, adjusted for league schedules.
Fan Relations (FRL): Openness and consideration toward fans by players, coaches and management.
Ownership (OWN): Honesty and loyalty to core players and local community.
Affordability (AFF): Price of tickets, parking and concessions.
Stadium Experience (STX): Quality of arena and game-day promotions as well as friendliness of environment.
Players (PLA): Effort on the field and likability off it.
Coaching (CCH): Strength of on-field leadership.
Title Track (TTR): Championships already won or expected in the lifetime of current fans.
Any Team In Cleveland (ATC): Automatically deduct 500 points.

Ok, I made that last one up, so let's get to the rankings. I'm sure most of you will disagree with where your team is ranked.

I'd start complaining about this list, but I might never stop if I get started. So I'll just let all of you go nuts in the comments.

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7/1/09

yanksawboy

4	They should at least flip the Lions with the Knicks.

7/1/09

THE_Smoot

0	Woo for my favorites getting numbers 4, 36, 43, and 59. Knicks fans... Heh.

7/1/09

tron8808

1	The Blues getting higher than the Cardinals? HA! or maybe I just don't follow hockey close enough....

7/1/09

BluDevil

Wow, I expected the Knicks to be low but really #121? That's a disaster in NY.

And the AZ Cards are #33... I'm shocked to see that.

It is funny to me that the Mavs and Rangers are so close together.

I'd be interested how teams that have common ownership rank relative to one another. Like Tom Hicks owns the Rangers and Stars (I think) and the Stars are #22 and the Rangers are #48. How is it that teams with the same ownership could provide such dramatically different fan experiences (according to this list)?

7/1/09

100%InjuryRate

0	tron8808 wrote: The Blues getting higher than the Cardinals? HA! or maybe I just don't follow hockey close enough.... No, you're right. There's definitely something wrong with that.

7/1/09

ShagNasty

0	100%InjuryRate wrote: No, you're right. There's definitely something wrong with that. No sounds right.

7/1/09

yanksawboy

1	THE_Smoot wrote: Woo for my favorites getting numbers 4, 36, 43, and 59. Knicks fans... Heh. No wonder why I hate the list.

7/1/09

streetballer123

1	haha...the clippers are last

7/1/09

hskrdave

0	Hurricanes are #2? and Maple Leafs are 3rd from last? I guess I'll read the reasons when I get the mag in the mail.

7/1/09

marowak

0	my 2 fave teams coming in 32nd and 33rd

7/1/09

yanksawboy

1	hskrdave wrote: Hurricanes are #2? and Maple Leafs are 3rd from last? I guess I'll read the reasons when I get the mag in the mail. I have the mag too but if you go on the site they tell you the reasons why.

7/1/09

chrismac

1	The clippers should be downgraded to D-league and the #1 team should replace them. Same with the lions and the USFL. It'd make sense and maybe the owners would be embarrassed into spending money and making unselfish decisions.

7/1/09

hskrdave

1	yanksawboy wrote: I have the mag too but if you go on the site they tell you the reasons why. i get the Mag as a Gift. Had it since the beginning and I'm not renewing this year. I'm not going to ESPN and view their site so they can make money.

7/1/09

wyldePHX

2	I can't believe the Phoenix Suns are ranked about the same as the Phoenix Coyotes. I've gone to both of their games and the Coyotes are a much worse team to go watch, while I have a blast anytime I'm at a Suns' NBA game.

7/2/09

Dubya

3	The #3 rank for the Steelers would be fine if they weren't behind the carolina hurricanes and los angeles angels. Glad to see Pittsburgh getting two teams in there. Can't believe the Pirates were so high. Must be the stadium. Or something...it's not the team!

7/2/09

Chris

Those TTR #s are so odd in so many spots. The ANGELS even have a higher rank in that category than the Lakers, who obviously always win-- even with "breaks" inbetween title spurts. They should get rid of that thing or fix how they calculate. You can't "expect" certain amounts of titles in that extended period of time. The amount of variables and account for variable change is far too great.

--wait... you said ESPN...? That explains everything.

7/2/09

kramer

3	The Pirates are too high. Signed, extremely disgruntled fan

7/2/09

nyrangers

3	No love for New York based teams, huh? Good. They don't deserve any high rankings. None of them. Except for maybe the Giants. This is coming from a New York fan.

7/2/09

xtra_ill

0	Steelers and Pens in the top 10! Pittsburgh Pirates please take notes.

7/2/09

TheRoss

0	Yeah, I actually have no problems with where the Atlanta teams are ranked.

7/2/09

DckyJay

1	Pittsburgh is well represented here. 2 teams in the top 10. that's amazing. i don't care where the Pirates fall, they should be lower. we truly r the 'City of Champions'. go get ur shirts!!!!!

7/2/09

radiowave000

0	ESPN continues to make crap up to fill time in the summer... can't wait till Reilly and Mt Everest of Sports comes back...not

7/2/09

yanksawboy

1	nyrangers wrote: No love for New York based teams, huh? Good. They don't deserve any high rankings. None of them. Except for maybe the Giants. This is coming from a New York fan. Thats what I was looking at such New York haters.

7/2/09

kwheels

0	royals over chiefs....im confused how does this poll work again??

7/2/09

kwheels

1	and who wouldve ever thought tha knicks and clippers would be next to each other on any pole....geez thomas really did run that team to tha ground jus like tha cbl...donnie walsh sure has alot of work to do...thats unless he realizes its beyond saving and bolts tha hell outta there

7/2/09

Flone87

(Edited by Flone87)

So does this finally prove Pittsburgh is the best sports town with the only city with 2 in the top 10(And wait for the new Consol Arena)? And the Pirates of course! The best stadium in baseball with the worst product ever...What's the over/under before they trade McCutcheon? 3 years? The kid is a beast...but how do you spell his name!!!

Not being a Cali guy, what makes the Angels #1 exactly? And the Canes #2?

Being as unbiased as possible, the Patriots, Steelers & Red Wings should be 1,2,3 (whatever order you want)for producing winning teams year in, year out..

7/2/09

ary201

1	They put a lot of stock into how expensive it is to be a regular fan of a team. That why so many teams in large metro areas and teams where it's a difficult ticket get knocked down so much. If it's really expensive to get tickets, consessions, parking, etc. that hits the affordability ranking, bang for your buck ranking, and stadium experience.

7/2/09

ary201

Flone87 wrote:

Angels have been extremely consistent for the past decade (and this list is based on recent events, not historical), plus they've won a championship, it's an easy ticket, cheap to park, the park is nice, the coaching is always smart, they don't shy away from grabbing star players...

I'm sort of surprised their #1 though. They get a #1 rating on Title Track? They must be counting division titles and being very optimistic about their future, cause I mean if you're in your 40s, the Yankees have won how many WS titles in your life? and they get a 26?

7/2/09

fourtime7

0	just something expn does to get more ratings. when did espn become the mecca of sports. pittsburgh steelers and penguins should be one two and wings three. the wings sell ot everynight in a city that close to bankrupt that says something. oittsburgh one two because the in the finals or winning the champoionship consistently. that the ultimate gift to fans.

7/2/09

marowak

Flone87 wrote:

the patriots do not deserve that company

7/2/09

joshwillis52

Can somebody please tell me how the Cubs got ranked as high as #78? I mean seriously, how does one of the most pathetic franchises in sports get that high? They've sucked for so long and are the laughing stock in all of baseball and in my opinion top 5 in sports. They have the longest championship drought than any other franchise and haven't even made a World Series appearance in the last 64 years(which is also the longest drought in all sports).

7/2/09

Elijahwon

1	I'm wondering how Toronto (most valuable team in the NHL at 450 million, and with some of the best fans in the world (who else sells out and has one of the best fanbases in the world without results?) end up 3rd last and dead last from the NHL, while (won't be in) Phoenix (next year) Coyotes come out in the 80s, their 9 fans in all... Hmm... something doesnt add up here ESPN...

7/2/09

gobigblue1960

0	The Red Wings got three #1 rankings, and finished the poll in the #4 position...what in the name of Detroit Sports happened to the Tigers, Pistons, and , well, yeah, my Lions(six categories, and four rankings below 100...ouch.!).? That's why it's called Hockeytown.!