The Mag: Ultimate Standings 2011

Welcome to ESPN The Magazine's ninth-annual Ultimate Standings, in which we measure how much MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL franchises give back to the fans in exchange for all the time, money and emotion the fans invest in them.

The Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers jumped from No. 9 last year to the top spot in 2011, due in part to star quarterback Aaron Rodgers officially turning the page on the Brett Favre era at Lambeau Field. But below-average ticket prices and unmatched customer service were also a key point among fans as evidenced by the Packers finishing first in such categories as "fan friendly environment at games" and "provides an avenue for fan feedback."

The eight major categories that make up the Ultimate Standings were created based on feedback from fans about what they want most from their favorite teams (click here for a more detailed account of the method to our madness.) The categories:

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.

Below you will find a sortable table of this year's Ultimate Standings as well as previous results going back to 2003. Subcategories that make up the overall ranking for that category are available for the 2009-11 results. Insiders can click on team names for a more detailed breakdown of the rankings. Insider

Financial analysis by the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon (Steve Acampa, Andrew Behl, Cally Deal, Michael DeMartini, Timothy Dobyns, Patrick Haas, Travis Hanson, Peter Raschio, Carolyne Wood and Bill Zachry). Fan surveys by Maddock Douglas and NetReflector.


Back to Overall Rankings


Click on table headings to sort by category.

TEAMOWNERSHIP
HNSTLOYCOMM
1.Detroit Red Wings1222
2.San Antonio Spurs2314
3.Pittsburgh Steelers3193
4.Pittsburgh Penguins43313
5.Green Bay Packers55131
6.Washington Capitals6759
7.San Jose Sharks7141111
8.Tampa Bay Lightning882325
9.Los Angeles Lakers99824
10.Baltimore Ravens109633
11.Philadelphia Phillies112596
12.Philadelphia Flyers1217176
13.Vancouver Canucks1335345
14.Dallas Mavericks14151826
15.San Francisco Giants15252315
HNSTLOYCOMM
16.Detroit Tigers16123222
17.Cincinnati Reds17242815
18.Chicago Blackhawks1825339
19.Indianapolis Colts19161455
20.Atlanta Falcons2093045
21.Colorado Rockies21451219
22.Chicago Bulls22441514
23.Oklahoma City Thunder2339735
24.Miami Heat24182743
25.Buffalo Sabres2565222
26.Anaheim Ducks26382130
27.Boston Red Sox27333512
28.Texas Rangers28233826
29.Milwaukee Brewers29123945
30.Chicago White Sox30371656
HNSTLOYCOMM
31.Orlando Magic31203941
32.Carolina Hurricanes32421949
33.Montreal Canadiens3331478
34.New York Giants34283740
35.Kansas City Chiefs35284428
36.Minnesota Twins36482932
37.Los Angeles Angels37214635
38.Boston Celtics38324819
39.New York Yankees39592519
40.Calgary Flames40523135
41.Nashville Predators41213667
42.New Orleans Saints42562044
43.St. Louis Cardinals43573318
44.New England Patriots44196033
45.Atlanta Braves45602629
HNSTLOYCOMM
46.Portland Trail Blazers46622130
47.Houston Rockets47335354
48.Seattle Seahawks48355651
49.New Jersey Devils49414362
50.Ottawa Senators50506245
51.Denver Nuggets51436464
52.Cleveland Cavaliers52307271
53.New York Jets53545760
54.Houston Texans54614864
55.Los Angeles Kings55744250
56.Utah Jazz56488164
57.Denver Broncos57538656
58.Chicago Bears58824135
59.Indiana Pacers59504897
60.Toronto Blue Jays60646568
HNSTLOYCOMM
61.Jacksonville Jaguars61406198
62.Philadelphia 76ers62725859
63.Chicago Cubs63707935
64.St. Louis Blues64636677
65.Edmonton Oilers65557589
66.Dallas Cowboys66845148
67.Philadelphia Eagles67678553
68.Washington Wizards684610376
69.Minnesota Wild69669661
70.Memphis Grizzlies70784494
71.Boston Bruins71936242
72.Colorado Avalanche72807572
73.Washington Nationals73747884
74.New York Rangers741045915
75.Carolina Panthers75778781
HNSTLOYCOMM
76.Arizona Diamondbacks76818380
77.Tampa Bay Buccaneers77857482
78.Detroit Lions78928062
79.Cleveland Browns79708896
80.St. Louis Rams806571106
81.Golden State Warriors817910587
82.Miami Dolphins82919472
83.Milwaukee Bucks837384103
84.Columbus Blue Jackets847675105
85.Houston Astros85949279
86.Tampa Bay Rays8647106109
87.Tennessee Titans878810291
88.Seattle Mariners88969386
89.Detroit Pistons898910095
90.Baltimore Orioles901117369
HNSTLOYCOMM
91.New York Knicks911089851
92.Minnesota Vikings926768114
93.Dallas Stars931137074
94.Toronto Maple Leafs941099956
95.Arizona Cardinals959810190
96.Phoenix Suns9610710469
97.Charlotte Bobcats976911698
98.San Francisco 49ers989568108
99.San Diego Padres998311987
100.New Orleans Hornets10010354111
101.Atlanta Hawks10111467100
102.Toronto Raptors10210510893
103.New Jersey Nets1035897120
104.Kansas City Royals10410011583
105.New York Mets1051168974
HNSTLOYCOMM
106.Buffalo Bills10686107112
107.Oakland Raiders1079982113
108.Los Angeles Dodgers1081189078
109.Cleveland Indians10910211892
110.San Diego Chargers1109090115
111.Minnesota Timberwolves11197112107
112.Washington Redskins11211511184
113.Florida Marlins113110117101
114.Phoenix Coyotes11411254117
115.Florida Panthers115101120110
116.New York Islanders11610695119
117.Oakland Athletics11787113118
118.Los Angeles Clippers118120110104
119.Pittsburgh Pirates119117122102
120.Cincinnati Bengals120121114116
HNSTLOYCOMM
121.Sacramento Kings121119108122
122.Atlanta Thrashers122122121121

ESPN Conversations


You must be signed in to post a comment

Already have an account?