Dallas Stars Sitting Pretty In Top Sports Franchises List
By Josh Clark
ESPN The Magazine just released their 2016 Ultimate Standings List which ranks all 132 franchises of the”big four” sports leagues on a variety of categories. The Dallas Stars continue to rise in this ranking, clawing closer to the top than any year prior.
The Dallas Stars really do run a tight ship. Sometimes we as fans may be oblivious to this fact, but the franchise really knows what it’s doing.
This past Thursday, ESPN The Magazine released its annual ranking of all 132 professional sports teams. These teams include the 30 from the NHL, NBA, and MLB, as well as the 32 from the NFL.
Each year, the magazine surveys every franchise and scores them on a variety of categories before coming up with the final rankings. Some of these categories include ownership, coaching, fan relations, and affordability. After calculating all of the scores together for 2016, it’s clear that the Dallas Stars are once again proving to be one of the most effective franchises in the sporting world.
The Tampa Bay Lightning ended up claiming the first place slot as the best professional sports franchise after receiving top five votes in a majority of the categories. The Nashville Predators claimed sixth and the Florida Panthers slid into seventh.
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Coming in at eighth overall (fourth among NHL teams) is the Dallas Stars franchise. After already receiving a successful 2015 judging, the Stars now find themselves two spots higher than they were a mere year ago with improved scores.
Overall went up from 10 to 8. Title track went up from 31 to 25. Ownership jumped from 22 to 15. Coaching went from 43 to 35. Players hopped from 25 to 20. Stadium experience took a massive leap from 38 to 25. Finally, fan relations increased from 19 to 13.
With GM Jim Nill at the helm, head coach Lindy Ruff behind the bench, and players like Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, and Patrick Sharp, it’s kind of difficult to not have a dominant team.
The only two things that went in the opposite direction were affordability (from 20 to 33) and ‘bang for the buck’ (13 to 17). These changes are expected to happen when a team goes from missing the playoffs to champions of their division over the span of one season.
The article on the Stars was written by Charlotte Gibson, and you can find the entire story here. To find the final rankings of every franchise, click here. Here is what Gibson had to say about the eighth best franchise in sports:
What’s good
For the Dallas Stars, good ownership and fan relations come hand-in-hand. Sitting in the 15th spot in ownership and 13th in fan relations, the Stars know how to run a successful hockey team and create an enjoyable fan experience both on and off the ice.
For Dallas Stars president and CEO Jim Lites, the equation is simple: provide special benefits for season-ticket holders, enhance the stadium experience and emphasize the Victory Green.
“We’ve introduced a new customized benefit plan for season-ticket holders that allows them to choose between a gift or an experience like a fan tunnel or penalty box visit in appreciation of their support,” Lites says. “This provides more added value that is tailored to the individual.”
What’s bad
There’s always major buzz surrounding the Dallas Stars, but when it comes to affordability, they are beginning to see a slight decline in fan approval. After dropping 13 spots in the affordability category, the Stars’ biggest challenge this year will be to keep fans coming back despite a raise in prices.
However, the Stars’ tickets are still the second-cheapest in hockey, and considering the product on the ice — the team is stacked with one of the best offenses in the NHL, with stars like Jamie Benn and his sidekick Tyler Seguin — $37 is a more than reasonable price. At any rate, these higher prices don’t seem to deter the strong Victory Green fan base.
What’s new
From the big, fluffy green mascot — respectfully named Victor E. Green — to the new LED boards on the terrace level, the Stars jumped 13 spots in the stadium experience rankings (25th overall). Inside the American Airlines Center, Dallas fans can enjoy the action on the ice from any angle.
When the fans enter the village area, they are immediately greeted by a community filled with green team pride. “We have really emphasized Victory Green as a core element of our brand,” Lites says. “We are requesting fans wear green on game nights, giving us our own unique in-arena experience.”
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Some other notable team names near the Stars are the Texas Rangers (number 10), the Anaheim Ducks (23rd), and the Dallas Mavericks (24th). It looks as though the Dallas Stars finished highest among all Dallas-based teams. That’s not a bad repertoire to own.
The Stars will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at home tonight while also hosting their annual Hockey Fights Cancer night. Just take a second to step back and realize just how wonderful this organization truly is and how much work is put into the fan experience.