Ultimate Standings: Fan Satisfaction Rankings

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Ultimate Standings: Fan Satisfaction Rankings

Categories:
BNG (Bang for the Buck): Wins over the past three years per revenues directly from fans
FRL (Fan Relations): Ease of access to players, coaches & management
OWN (Ownership): Honesty; loyalty to players and city
AFF (Affordability): Price of tickets, parking and concessions
STD (Stadium Experience): Friendliness of environment; quality of game-day promotions
PLA (Players): Effort on the field; likability off it
CCH (Coach/Manager): Strong on-field leadership
TTR (Title Track): Titles already won or expected -- soon

#19 DALLAS MAVERICKS

Last Year's Rank: 3
Title Track: 48
Ownership: 5
Coaching: 8
Players:12
Fan Relations: 4
Affordability: 40
Stadium: 5
Bang for the Buck: 41

Fans have little to complain about in Mavs country. The team's owner shells out 105 mil, the league's highest payroll, and responds to comments on his personal blog. A couple of Jasons help maintain the roster's popularity: Kidd, by returning home, and Terry, on his weekly radio show. Fans can also interact on the team's MySpace page when they're not watching games at the NBA's top-rated American Airlines Center. Complaints are limited to an 11.6% ticket hike, fourth highest in the NBA, which followed last season's historic playoff collapse against the eighth-seeded Warriors. The relatively high Affordability ranking reflects doubt that the extra tix cash will help the Mavs capture a title. But it might fund dance lessons for owner Mark Cuban. Talk about a waste. -Andy Kamenetzky


#22 DALLAS STARS

Last Year's Rank: 20
Title Track: 27
Ownership: 38
Coaching: 48
Players: 41
Fan Relations: 26
Affordability: 68
Stadium Experience: 63
Bang for the Buck: 16

Everything's big in Texas, including the values. All four Dallas-area teams placed among the top 48 in B4B, but none ranked higher than the Stars, who boast the NHL's fifth-cheapest admission (average, $36.85). And that was before new team prez Jeff Cogen, a former Ringling Brothers marketing director who knows how to put butts in seats, rolled back 2008-09 season ticket prices 37% in the choicest upper bowl seats. Gone is the 238-game sellout streak that hatched during the 1999 Cup run, but this year's 21 full houses amount to seven more than last season. Among them? Brad Richards' Feb. 28 debut, in which the 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner tallied five assists, plus a Nov. 21 win that featured a half-hour pregame tribute to 18-year Star and the American-born points leader (1,283 and counting), Mike Modano. They may not have a storied cheerleading squad jumping on the sidelines, but when 18,532 fans at American Airlines Center scream out "STARS!" during the national anthem & well, that's huge. -Eddie Matz



#46 DALLAS COWBOYS


Last Year's Rank: 82
Title Track: 26
Ownership: 37
Coaching: 76
Players: 57
Fan Relations: 82
Affordability: 79
Stadium Experience: 85
Bang for the Buck: 35

As far as Cowboys country is concerned, Jerry Jones is definitely riding tall in the saddle. He's signed top free agents (offensive tackle Leonard Davis and safety Ken Hamlin), hired coaches like Jason Garrett (QBs) and top sheriff Wade Phillips, and started building a new ranch, scheduled to open in 2009. Result: a 22-spot leap in Ownership rankings since last year. Fans also give big ups to Big D's big three of TO, MB lII and America's QB (that's Terrell Owens, Marion Barber III and Tony Romo to you tenderfeet). You'd think a 27% hike in average ticket prices (up to $84.12, third-highest in the league) would hurt the Boys' Bang, but you'd be wrong, pard. That's because the real bottom line (wins, silly) went up even more (44% from '='06 to '07). Add it all up, and you get a Texas-size, 36-spot overall giddyap, fourth-best in the NFL. - Eddie Matz



#90 TEXAS RANGERS


Last Year's Rank: 53
Title Track: 115
Ownership: 104
Coaching: 94
Players: 89
Fan Relations: 95
Affordability: 62
Stadium Experience: 70
Bang for the Buck: 48

After shipping Alex Rodriguez (and his hefty contract) to the Yankees in 2004, owner Tom Hicks promised to rebuild. Good thing fans didn't hold their breath, because Hicks next dealt stars Alfonso Soriano, Mark Teixiera and Adrián González for prospects and let Carlos Lee go as a free agent. No wonder the club has never won an MLB postseason series. Oh well, at least the price is right. The average ticket to Rangers Ballpark is the third-cheapest in baseball, at $16.47. Under-13s get in free every Tuesday, and hot dogs go for a buck on Wednesdays. Foodies love the All-You-Can-Eat seats, where $34 includes admission and all the hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos and soft drinks a fan can scarf down. Bonus: Anyone driving a Lexus gets free valet parking at the stadium. Added bonus: That no longer applies to Eric Gagné. - Molly Knight

Got an issue with how your team stacks up in our Ultimate Rankings? Join the conversation below and talk to other fans about the results.

[Flacolaco]

The Rangers should be waaaay lower on that list.

The Redskins, Bulls, Canucks, Sixers, and maybe even Dolphins fans have all had something in very recent memory to be at least a little happy about. They should be higher than the rangers.

[Murphy3]

Way too low on the stadium experience for the Rangers...