The Tampa Bay Lightning ranked the #1 franchise in all sports.

[TampaBayLightning]

This is a ranking by ESPN that comes out this weekend. Nice to see a NHL team at the top and a football team at the bottom(49ers).

http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/lightning-take-top-spot-in-espn-ultimate-rankings/338975077

Click to read more...

 

[sjsharks92]

This is a ranking by ESPN that comes out this weekend. Nice to see a NHL team at the top and a football team at the bottom(49ers).

LOL hadn't even seen that yet but I'm not at all surprised 49ers are considered the worst sports organization at the moment.

Congrats to the Lightning.

 

[leaflover]

That is a bit surprising to see an NHL team at the top, but I like it.

 

[theYman]

Tampa?? What have they done since winning in 2004?? Are they just trying to reword what defines a classy organization is? So I guess Detroit was nowhere to be found? If any team should at the top it's Detroit. Biggest fanbase in hockey and the loyalty knows no bounds both ways. And we had Lidstrom on the team for 20 yrs for christ sakes. The classiest most respected guy ever to play hockey. They call him the "The Perfect Human" even. This is why I hate ESPN. Yeah when they get it right( nominating a hockey team) they get it wrong.

 

[Trxjw]

Tampa?? What have they done since winning in 2004?? Are they just trying to reword what defines a classy organization is? So I guess Detroit was nowhere to be found? If any team should at the top it's Detroit. Biggest fanbase in hockey and the loyalty knows no bounds both ways.

If you read the article it explains it.

The standings consider 25 criteria, including as ticket prices, recent on-field successes, and how owners & players show appreciation to their fans, a factor in which the Lightning ranked No. 1 out of 122 franchises.

This isn't some sort of "most historic franchise" poll. They do it every year.

 

[jacks*]

Detroit is far from having the biggest fanbase in hockey.That would be either the Habs or the Leafs.

 

[Hobocop]

Tampa?? What have they done since winning in 2004?? Are they just trying to reword what defines a classy organization is? So I guess Detroit was nowhere to be found? If any team should at the top it's Detroit. Biggest fanbase in hockey and the loyalty knows no bounds both ways. And we had Lidstrom on the team for 20 yrs for christ sakes. The classiest most respected guy ever to play hockey. They call him the "The Perfect Human" even. This is why I hate ESPN. Yeah when they get it right( nominating a hockey team) they get it wrong.

Maybe take a breath and look at what the categories the franchises were ranked on even are, hm?

 

[ikyan]

Some of their criteria used were brutal. Low ticket prices should lower a team's ranking, not help it...

 

[Trxjw]

Some of their criteria used were brutal. Low ticket prices should lower a team's ranking, not help it...

What? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

 

[Knave]

LOL hadn't even seen that yet but I'm not at all surprised 49ers are considered the worst sports organization at the moment.

Congrats to the Lightning.

A little less than 4 years ago Kaepernick was their starter and they were in the Super Bowl.

I guess it's a "most recent season" type of deal? The 49ers have sucked recently.

 

[Diamondillium]

Some of their criteria used were brutal. Low ticket prices should lower a team's ranking, not help it...

It's supposed to be a ranking of how good the franchise is from a fan's perspective. Fans want lower ticket prices.

 

[jw2]

Interdasting

 

[WarriorOfGandhi]

Tampa?? What have they done since winning in 2004?? Are they just trying to reword what defines a classy organization is? So I guess Detroit was nowhere to be found? If any team should at the top it's Detroit. Biggest fanbase in hockey and the loyalty knows no bounds both ways. And we had Lidstrom on the team for 20 yrs for christ sakes. The classiest most respected guy ever to play hockey. They call him the "The Perfect Human" even. This is why I hate ESPN. Yeah when they get it right( nominating a hockey team) they get it wrong.

agreed, your favorite team is objectively the greatest to ever play in any sport, or really any aspect of human culture

 

[Hobocop]

A little less than 4 years ago Kaepernick was their starter and they were in the Super Bowl.

I guess it's a "most recent season" type of deal? The 49ers have sucked recently.

Based on their criteria, not only have they sucked recently but we can't stand our owner, our ticket prices are too high for what they're putting on the field, there is no sign of improvement, and so on and so on.

It does not surprise me at all that the Niners are in last. Just an awful time to be a fan of theirs.

 

[theYman]

agreed, your favorite team is objectively the greatest to ever play in any sport, or really any aspect of human culture

Possibly even the universe. They maybe even exceeded god's abilities.

 

[The Underboss]

Thank you Jeff Vinik.

 

[Paris in Flames]

Tampa?? What have they done since winning in 2004?? Are they just trying to reword what defines a classy organization is? So I guess Detroit was nowhere to be found? If any team should at the top it's Detroit. Biggest fanbase in hockey and the loyalty knows no bounds both ways. And we had Lidstrom on the team for 20 yrs for christ sakes. The classiest most respected guy ever to play hockey. They call him the "The Perfect Human" even. This is why I hate ESPN. Yeah when they get it right( nominating a hockey team) they get it wrong.

You....think Detroit has the biggest fanbase?

Well. That's confusing.

(Spoiler: not even top 5)

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

A little less than 4 years ago Kaepernick was their starter and they were in the Super Bowl.

I guess it's a "most recent season" type of deal? The 49ers have sucked recently.

From what I can see, it's using a combination of on-field success, coherent team management, and organizational business to approximate a sort of "fan satisfaction power rankings."

Since the 49ers owner forced out the architects of the on-field success, making the team very bad in more recent history, it very much off-sets the fact that they were playing for a title in the past half decade.

 

[kingsholygrail]

I agree with them on the 49ers ranking. That franchise is a disaster right now especially with fan relations. They used be a lot better in that regard.

 

[JaegerDice]

I have no issue with that selection. Lightning seem like a smart, progressive organization.

 

[LeafFever]

Detroit is far from having the biggest fanbase in hockey.That would be either the Habs or the Leafs.

"HockeyTown" has worked. The media hears that and goes with it.

 

[Makar Goes Fast]

I have no issue with that selection. Lightning seem like a smart, progressive organization.

yup no argument from me.

 

[MrFunnyWobbl]

I agree with them on the 49ers ranking. That franchise is a disaster right now especially with fan relations. They used be a lot better in that regard.

They were in good shape but went downhill after losing to Superstar QB Joe Flacco in the superbowl.

 

[Jumptheshark]

This is a ranking by ESPN that comes out this weekend. Nice to see a NHL team at the top and a football team at the bottom(49ers).

http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/lightning-take-top-spot-in-espn-ultimate-rankings/338975077

gotta ask what went into the make up of the list

 

[FinnLightning26]

A testament to how great a job Jeff Vinik has been doing with the franchise. The Lightning were in shambles when he bought it and he has certainly revitalized everything. He said he would strive to make this a world class organization and he has done just that.