NEW YORK (July 14, 2009) – Six National Hockey League teams rank in the top 11 spots among all pro sports teams when it comes to paying fans back for their investment of time, money and passion, according to ESPN the Magazine. The Carolina Hurricanes rank #2, the Detroit Red Wings #4, the Washington Capitals #6, the Pittsburgh Penguins #8, the St. Louis Blues #10, and the Anaheim Ducks #11 in the publication’s Ultimate Standings report, featured in the July 13, 2009 issue. No other major professional sport has more than two franchises in the Top Eleven.
The NHL also leads all professional leagues with eight franchises finishing in the Top 25 according to the report, which was the result of exclusive and original analysis by ESPN The Magazine and the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center (WSMC) at the University of Oregon. More than 50,000 fans were polled in phone and e-mail surveys and asked about their favorite teams from the MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL in terms of fan relations, overall commitment and effort of ownership, players’ efforts (in and out of competition), stadium experience, affordability for fans, quality of coaching and championship drive and success. One final category, “Bang for the Buck,” measured a team’s performance against money it receives directly from fans.
The analysis was used to determine how teams turn fan support into success on the field. For more information on ESPN the Magazine’s Ultimate Standings, log on to espn.com/insider.
ESPN THE MAGAZINE 2009 ULTIMATE STANDINGS: THE TOP 25
1. Los Angeles Angels – MLB
2. Carolina Hurricanes – NHL
3. Pittsburgh Steelers – NFL
4. Detroit Red Wings – NHL
5. Cleveland Cavaliers – NBA
6. Washington Capitals – NHL
7. Milwaukee Brewers – MLB
8. Pittsburgh Penguins – NHL
9. San Antonio Spurs – NBA
10. St. Louis Blues – NHL
11. Anaheim Ducks – NHL
12. New Orleans Hornets – NBA
13. Green Bay Packers – NFL
14. Indianapolis Colts – NFL
15. Tennessee Titans – NFL
16. Tampa Bay Rays – MLB
17. Houston Rockets – NBA
18. Orlando Magic – NBA
19. New England Patriots – NFL
20. Boston Celtics – NBA
21. Chicago Blackhawks – NHL
22. Dallas Stars – NHL
23. Minnesota Twins – MLB
24. Philadelphia Phillies – MLB
25. Portland Trail Blazers – NBA
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