D-West & PO-Z
07-02-2009, 12:02 PM
ESPN ranked the best franchises in the 4 major sports. It is out of 122. They gave a ranking out of 122 in 9 different areas and then I guess averaged them out and assigned the rankings.(Actually it might only account for 8 rankings because I dont think last years ranking played a role in this years rankings) The Bengals are ranked very poorly but the Reds have a very good ranking. They had some really good things to say about the Reds.
Bengals Number 118
Last Year's Rank: 115
Title Track: 107
Ownership: 113
Coaching: 84
Players: 118
Fan Relations: 122
Affordability: 99
Stadium Experience: 100
Bang for the Buck: 106
How do you post a septuple-triple (seven rankings in the triple digits)? By having an owner who hasn't won a single playoff game during his 18-year tenure. By being the lone team out of the league's nine worst last season that hasn't made any changes in management since. By being so cheap that you skimp on scouts and hold the dubious honor of being the northernmost NFL squad without an indoor practice facility. Most of all, you post a septuple-triple by being clueless. "They have absolutely no idea what their fans are going through," says Andrew Simon, a 27-year old PR exec who claims that his antiestablishment (read: anti-Mike Brown) website gets 10,000-plus hits daily. This off-season Simon gave up his seats, *after eight years, when the Bengals sent season ticket-holders a letter that contained a quote from -- get this -- Bill Cowher, ex-coach of the bitter rival Steelers, picking the Bengals to make the playoffs. Accepting a compliment from a blood enemy -- is this the sort of thing that will make more Bengals fans revolt? It's hard to say. The team has been pretty revolting of late. What have they been waiting for?
Reds Number 36
Last Year's Rank: 59
Title Track: 52
Ownership: 57
Coaching: 73
Players: 52
Fan Relations: 58
Affordability: 14
Stadium Experience: 60
Bang for the Buck: 28
Reds fans are a patient group. How else do you explain a 23-place improvement overall and a 44-spot spike in Players ranking despite eight straight losing seasons? "They're great fans, and Cincinnati is first and foremost a baseball town," says former Reds first baseman Sean Casey. "They still talk about the Big Red Machine, but they're craving a new face for the franchise." Top candidates? Popular homegrown players Jay Bruce and Joey Votto, who have more than made up for departed Ken Griffey Jr. The economic downturn has hit Ohio hard, and in response the Reds have brought back $5 seats to the Outer View Level. The team also unveiled a Baker's Dozen promotion that gives a free Friday, Saturday or Sunday ticket with the purchase of 12 weekend tickets. Hot dogs and soda are available for $1 each at two concession stands, and value meals of a dog, soda, chips and a baseball card for the kiddies can be had for $5. Even in the toughest times, Reds fans still see value in a trip to the ballpark. As Columbus blogger Russell Wight said recently, "We know that no matter what the state of the economy, our children will only be young once … watching the game through the eyes of a youngster is something you cannot put a price on." Ain't that America?
Bengals Number 118
Last Year's Rank: 115
Title Track: 107
Ownership: 113
Coaching: 84
Players: 118
Fan Relations: 122
Affordability: 99
Stadium Experience: 100
Bang for the Buck: 106
How do you post a septuple-triple (seven rankings in the triple digits)? By having an owner who hasn't won a single playoff game during his 18-year tenure. By being the lone team out of the league's nine worst last season that hasn't made any changes in management since. By being so cheap that you skimp on scouts and hold the dubious honor of being the northernmost NFL squad without an indoor practice facility. Most of all, you post a septuple-triple by being clueless. "They have absolutely no idea what their fans are going through," says Andrew Simon, a 27-year old PR exec who claims that his antiestablishment (read: anti-Mike Brown) website gets 10,000-plus hits daily. This off-season Simon gave up his seats, *after eight years, when the Bengals sent season ticket-holders a letter that contained a quote from -- get this -- Bill Cowher, ex-coach of the bitter rival Steelers, picking the Bengals to make the playoffs. Accepting a compliment from a blood enemy -- is this the sort of thing that will make more Bengals fans revolt? It's hard to say. The team has been pretty revolting of late. What have they been waiting for?
Reds Number 36
Last Year's Rank: 59
Title Track: 52
Ownership: 57
Coaching: 73
Players: 52
Fan Relations: 58
Affordability: 14
Stadium Experience: 60
Bang for the Buck: 28
Reds fans are a patient group. How else do you explain a 23-place improvement overall and a 44-spot spike in Players ranking despite eight straight losing seasons? "They're great fans, and Cincinnati is first and foremost a baseball town," says former Reds first baseman Sean Casey. "They still talk about the Big Red Machine, but they're craving a new face for the franchise." Top candidates? Popular homegrown players Jay Bruce and Joey Votto, who have more than made up for departed Ken Griffey Jr. The economic downturn has hit Ohio hard, and in response the Reds have brought back $5 seats to the Outer View Level. The team also unveiled a Baker's Dozen promotion that gives a free Friday, Saturday or Sunday ticket with the purchase of 12 weekend tickets. Hot dogs and soda are available for $1 each at two concession stands, and value meals of a dog, soda, chips and a baseball card for the kiddies can be had for $5. Even in the toughest times, Reds fans still see value in a trip to the ballpark. As Columbus blogger Russell Wight said recently, "We know that no matter what the state of the economy, our children will only be young once … watching the game through the eyes of a youngster is something you cannot put a price on." Ain't that America?