ESPN The Magazine: Far more credible than Forbes
Posted on March 27th, 2007 – 4:24 PMBy Michael Rand
ESPN has released its fifth annual ranking of “The Ultimate Standings,” and we have to say, at least as the numbers pertain to the four local pro franchises, they’ve fairly well summed up the sentiments of the local sporting public. Out of 122 pro teams, graded in a variety of different areas, on the basis of fan satisfaction:
Minnesota Twins: 14
Minnesota Wild: 29
Minnesota Timberwolves: 109
Minnesota Vikings: 119
Of particular note: The Wolves plummeted 70 spots (though that’s somewhat misleading because there was a smaller sample last year with NHL teams not being ranked). The Wolves took a huge hit in ownership and coaching rank, which seems fair at this point. … The Wild earned the distinction of having the No. 1 stadium experience in all of pro sports. … No. 1 overall: The Buffalo Sabres. No. 2: San Antonio Spurs. No. 3: Dallas Mavericks. No. 122: Detroit Lions.
ESPN.com has a link to the entire list. Your thoughts?
13 Responses to "ESPN The Magazine: Far more credible than Forbes"
That is a Microsoft Paint work of art!
I enjoy how the Vikings are only three spots higher than a franchise that just wallows in its own mediocrity. I mean when your fan base actually stages rallies to fire your GM and you don’t do anything about it, you’ve reached a whole new level of “We don’t give a rat’s ass about our fan base”. I give the Vikings another year and a half before that happens (and fans are hanging Childress in effigy).
The Wolves are so awful that I feel ashamed of myself for wanting Kevin Garnett to stay here. I still think he should stay. I mean, he is the only reason that I even give half-hearted attention to that team.
I’m surprised the Wild aren’t higher, but, then again, going to their game reminded me of why I love college sports so much. The fans at the Wild game I was at didn’t seem all that interested until it was about to go to overtime and then the shootout. The attentiveness is why college sports will always be the superior fan experience…except for
The Twins. Deservedly high ranked. They’ve been putting out a high quality product for several years now despite how they, for all intensive purposes, should have fallen into the down-cycle of a small market team. Hooray for excellent management!
Another question, how can the Twins stadium (the Metrodome) be two spots higher than the Vikings stadium (the Metrodome)? Apparently, the Florida Marlins stadium is only slightly better and slightly worse than the Metrodome. I don’t get it. It’s warm there and the stadium is outdoors, how bad can it be? I mean, is the upper deck crumbling and crushing fans in the lower deck? Do the toilets flush backward?
If we were throwing in college sports, I’d bet that all three major Gopher sports would slot in behind the Wild, probably with football a step above a tie between basketball and hockey.
A partial list of teams also possibly fitting in between the Wild and the Vikings: the Swarm, the Thunder, Gopher wrestling, Roseau hockey, and every fifth-grade basketball team in the state.
Well yeah, I would understand if the Dome was higher for the Vikings, seeing as it is a far better stadium for football then baseball
My comment is awaiting moderation? What’s that supposed to mean? Did RandBall hire a censor? Is the word “slot” not allowed?
Buffalo? Anyone here been to Buffalo? From what I saw it’s not much different than that movie by that creepy Vincent Gallo guy “Buffalo 66″.
I do, however, recommend the Au Bon Pain in the lobby of the hotel connected to the big hospital…
http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3718727974
… and after you’re finished eating I recommend you leave town. Because no matter how great the Sabres experience is, when the game’s over you still have to exit the arena and find yourself in Buffalo. Have your number one ranking. Because no matter how insanely terrible the Wolves’ experience has become, when Mrs. Ramon and I exit the Target Center we’re lucky enough to enter the streets of Minneapolis (Satan’s greatest accomplishment Block E notwithstanding) and walk a few blocks to see decent live music and grab some decent food. With people wearing something other than Sabres jerseys.
They tell me Buffalo’s getting better since I was there last. Then I heard the Buca’s closed. I mean, geez, if you can’t sustain a Buca’s…
On that same note, I’m surprised the Packers rated so low.
I’d comment on this thread, but all of my comments are awaiting moderation.
Jon … strangely enough, that word you mentioned is the one that was flagged. It stops a lot of um, junk mail that relates to an activity you would partake upon in Las Vegas from getting through. I couldn’t mention the word itself, you see, because then I would have been censored. Unfortunately, when you try to use the word in a normal way … the filter just doesn’t understand. It has a brain but no heart. No soul. It’s sad, really.
Heck, I thought just mentioning Buffalo would get me flagged.
More than 300.000 ..?
Ratatui hoche pyatochka?
nax zdes fumi?
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