When it comes to paying fans back for their investment of time, money and passion, the New Orleans Saints are No. 1 out of all major league sports franchises, according to this year’s ESPN The Magazine Ultimate Standings; Los Angeles Clippers are ranked last for the second year in a row. The Ultimate Standings, driven by research and fan feedback, looks at MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL franchises’ affordability, bang for the buck, coaching, fan relations, ownership, players, stadium experience and title track to establish a ranking of all 122. With its commitment to community and championship play, the New Orleans Saints, this year’s winner and cover subject, know how to reward fans. Saints-nation made it known they feel a strong connection to their team and appreciate everything it offered the New Orleans community in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. While the Saints lead the pack for the NFL in the Ultimate Standings issue, on newsstands Friday, July 2, the Orlando Magic lead for NBA franchises with No. 2 overall, the Los Angeles Angels lead for MLB at No. 3 overall and the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL at No. 5 overall.
Cover | Video | Complete Rankings
THE 2010 ULTIMATE STANDINGS: THE TOP AND BOTTOM
| Top 10 Overall Franchises | Bottom 10 Overall Franchises |
| 1. New Orleans Saints | 113. Toronto Raptors |
| 2. Orlando Magic | 114. St. Louis Rams |
| 3. Los Angeles Angels | 115. Oakland Raiders |
| 4. Indianapolis Colts | 116. Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 5. Pittsburgh Penguins | 117. Philadelphia 76ers |
| 6. Tampa Bay Rays | 118. New Jersey Nets |
| 7. San Antonio Spurs | 119. New York Knicks |
| 8. Detroit Red Wings | 120. Washington Wizards |
| 9. Green Bay Packers | 121. Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 10. Cleveland Cavaliers | 122. Los Angeles Clippers |
ULTIMATE CATEGORY WINNERS AND LOSERS
Affordability – Price of tickets, parking and concessions
- #1: Los Angeles Angels
- #122: Toronto Maple Leafs
Bang for the buck – Wins over the past two seasons per dollar contributed directed by fans
- #1: Orlando Magic
- #122: Toronto Maple Leafs
Coaching – Strength of on-field leadership
- #1: Los Angeles Angles
- #122: Philadelphia 76ers
Fan Relations – Players, coaches and management openness and consideration toward fans
- #1: Pittsburgh Penguins
- #122: Washington Wizards
Ownership – Honesty; loyalty to core players and local community
- #1: Detroit Red Wings
- #122: Los Angeles Clippers
Players – Effort on the field; likability off it
- #1: Philadelphia Phillies
- #122: Los Angeles Clippers
Stadium Experience – Quality of arena and game-day promotions; fan-friendliness of environment
- #1: Minnesota Twins
- #122: New York Islanders
Title Track – Championships already won or expected within lifetime of current fans
- #1: Philadelphia Phillies
- #122: Minnesota Timberwolves
Also in ESPN The Magazine:
If We Had A Hammer… (MLB)
… We’d rewrite the home run record book. Ah, heck. We’ll do it anyway. Introducing a new list of dinger kings. By Peter Keating
None Shall Pass (NFL)
It’s no stretch to say Darrelle Revis, the NFL’s No. 1 defender, is actually the best shutdown weapon in all of sports. By Shaun Assael
100m Times 8.99
In an excerpt from The Perfection Point, the host of Sport Science argues the athletic limits of the human body aren’t where we think they are. By John Brenkus
The In Crowd (Golf)
Pro-am golf tourneys are a dime a dozen. But all of them wish they were the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in stunning Lake Tahoe. By Eddie Matz
How Soccer Explains The Sports World (Soccer)
Best sport to train athletes for any sport? The Beautiful Game. Don’t buy it? Let Dwight Freeney and his fellow footie aficionados explain. By Alyssa Roenigk – Video
Raise Your Game
From catching a foul ball to taking a minor league road trip, experts tell how to make your next fan experience a fine one. By Lane Strauss.
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