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

[Mrb1p]

Chicago.. Boston... LA..

 

[Sky04]

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

How does high ticket prices make fans happy again?

So paying $300 a ticket to watch the 2015-2016 Maple Leafs or less than half that to watch the Lightning? Hmm tough choice there chief

 

[Not My Tempo]

No arguments from me, great team, relatively cheap tickets, solid fanbase.

 

[VinikToWinIt]

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.

Wait, guys.... LIDSTROM was on the Red Wings? The PERFECT HUMAN?!? Hand over the trophy boys, the Red Wings had a player one time.

 

[Habs Halifax]

The Lightning have a pretty impressive young core and are going to be one of the top teams in the NHL but #1 in all of sports? Not sure about that!

 

[MrClutch86]

itt: people dont read how the rankings were done

 

[SladeWilson23]

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.

I am a 49ers fan, and what they've done to that franchise is sickening. It's Oilers bad.

 

[Mrb1p]

How does high ticket prices make fans happy again?

So paying $300 a ticket to watch the 2015-2016 Maple Leafs or less than half that to watch the Lightning? Hmm tough choice there chief

Ever took an economy class? Demand is high, thus price are high. Fans cant be unhappy of they sell out

 

[Kimota]

LMAO!!! The Tampa Bay Lightnings? Poor ESPN.

 

[Moorpheus*]

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

As a leafs fan

**** no....

 

[CH25]

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

Restricting ticket sales from Canadian and Hawks fans during the playoffs doesn't seem like a very progressive strategy to me.

 

[Apotheosis]

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.

Biggest fan base in hockey when the Leafs and Habs exist. Okay.

 

[RobBrown4PM]

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.

Detroit is a funny way to spell Montreal and Toronto.

 

[Chaels Arms]

Ever took an economy class? Demand is high, thus price are high. Fans cant be unhappy of they sell out

Yes, obviously every hockey fan in Toronto enjoys paying $300 per ticket and they all hope it stays that way forever. I don't think I could ever find a hockey fan in Toronto who would actually want to pay less money to see their team play.

 

[CobraAcesS]

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

Having been in quite a few different buildings when Detroit is playing. I can easily believe Detroit being the largest, and it's extremely annoying lol.

 

[DaGoose]

Having been in quite a few different buildings when Detroit is playing. I can easily believe Detroit being the largest, and it's extremely annoying lol.

As you know, there are tons of people that move to Florida from Michigan. I'm one of them and I was at the Wings/Bolts season opener. Wings are my #1 team, Bolts are #2 team.

 

[Dimensha]

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.

This is satire right? It has to be because you can't be serious.

 

[Shakey Rustie]

Having been in quite a few different buildings when Detroit is playing. I can easily believe Detroit being the largest, and it's extremely annoying lol.

Doesn't Tampa go as far as banning Red Wing jerseys from being worn by fans in the arena?

 

[DaGoose]

Doesn't Tampa go as far as banning Red Wing jerseys from being worn by fans in the arena?

I wore mine last Thursday.

 

[Shakey Rustie]

I wore mine last Thursday.

Is it just a playoff thing or am I imagining this ban?!

 

[Rob]

Leafs not the worst anymore.

 

[DaGoose]

Is it just a playoff thing or am I imagining this ban?!

It was a playoff thing for the prime seating. IIRC they also banned people who didn't have a Florida address from buying tickets.

 

[ThatGuy22]

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

Not if the team's good

 

[Jacko95]

Is it just a playoff thing or am I imagining this ban?!

You are making something up here. That was a thing in the playoffs for one section in the arena, the most expensive one, having just 300 seats, most "owned" by season ticket holders and they wanted that ban. The other 19xxx people in the building were completly free the wear whatever they want.

 

[Benneguin]

How does high ticket prices make fans happy again?

So paying $300 a ticket to watch the 2015-2016 Maple Leafs or less than half that to watch the Lightning? Hmm tough choice there chief

And yet more people are willing to shell out the $300 to watch the weaker team... What does that say?