The ESPN Ultimate Team Standings 2011 are out on June 17 and while no Canadian cities or franchises fare well in the rankings, Toronto takes the hardest rap. As the ESPN website says the rankings "...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."
All three Toronto teams finish well down the list but the Toronto Maple Leafs fare the poorest of the three (CFL teams are not included) and are ranked in 120th spot, third from last, with only the NFL's Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals ranked lower. The Toronto Blue Jays of MLB are ranked 63rd overall while the NBA Toronto Raptors are ranked 116th.
ESPN Rankings Based On Wins, Cost, Owners
There is a formula used by ESPN to rank the teams and eight categories in which each club is ranked. The categories are Bang For The Buck, Fan Relations, Ownership, Affordability, Stadium Experience, Players, Coaching and Titles (won or strongly possible). Points are awarded to each franchise in each of those categories and the rankings are tabulated based on highest points awarded down to lowest points awarded.
As there are no other NBA or MLB Canadian franchises the only other Canadian franchises ranked are the other five Canadian NHL teams. The Vancouver Canucks, while an expensive ticket, due to rating high in other categories are ranked highest of the Canadians in 43rd place. The Montreal Canadians are 68th, Calgary Flames 73rd, Ottawa Senators are 82nd and the Edmonton Oilers are ranked 95th. The Atlanta Thrashers, now relocated to Winnipeg, were 115th.
Top Ten ESPN Ultimate Team Rankings
The top 10 sees the 2011 Superbowl Champion Green Bay Packers, always a stable franchise with their legions of fans called cheeseheads, move up from 9th place in 2010 to the top spot in 2011. The Pack are followed by an NHL franchise, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The other top ten franchises are the New Orleans Saints (NFL), Los Angeles Angels (MLB), San Antonio Spurs (NBA), Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA), Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL), Colorado Rockies (MLB), Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) and the PIttsburgh Penguins (NHL).
While the city of Washington has the NHL Capitals ranked 27th their other franchises outdo Toronto in terms of being placed low. The Washington Nationals of MLB are in 78th, the NBA Washington Wizards in 110th and the Redskins in 121st.
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