Did you check out ESPN's Ultimate Rankings?

[Tailgater]

Tired of reading about the draft, etc. so I logged into the ESPN site and they have this survey for all the pro franchises - baseball, football, basketball, and hockey - ranked from 1 through 122. The Cardinals came in 97th? This is a little puzzling to me and I thought I'd throw it out there for discussion. I certainly haven't been to all sports venues but I've been to quite a few over the years. No matter where I go when I'm traveling I'll see a sporting event if the home team is playing, just to check things out (OK, maybe not hockey so much) and I don't think the Cardinals deserve this low ranking. They based their rankings on several 'categories':

Bang for the buck - Cards rated 96 out of 122? How can that be? Where else can you go and get a comparable facility and pay $15 for a seat and ZERO to park? The Steelers are rated way up there and I've been to Heinz field. It's more expensive, the stadium is below average, and honestly doesn't compare (and I'm FROM there and that's my team - no discussion on that for this thread, please).

Fan Relations - Score 97. The only thing I'm aware of is that security is overzealous and people have complained but nothing has changed. Any of my dealing with the Cards office has been great and the whole selection process for the new digs was as good as any in the league.

Owners - Score 108. It's the Bidwills, so no matter what they've done recently the score is probably valid.

Affordability - Score 63. C'mon, it's gotta be in the top 10!

Stadium Ranking - Score 70. Are you kidding me? We don't have to be number 1 but it's gotta be in the top *******' 10. 70 is the BOTTOM HALF!!!

Players Ranking - Score 94. We might love our guys but 5-11 records year after year deserve this score.

Coaches Ranking - Score 86. I don't even know how they can score a new coaching staff. Flip a coin?

Titles - Score 109. Even this is goofy. How can we not be 122 after one title in a century?

It's certainly not easy to compare the NFL Cardinals with the NHL Sabres or the NBA Mavericks but I just don't see us ranking this low in fan satisfaction. I think the fans are disatified with the losing and the ownership but all the rest of it, is much much better. Or is it just me?

[cardinal eric]

I hate polls like this...Cards are always ignored and put in a bad light.We have the best stadium,best young QB...best WR corps....top notch Coaching staff...Edge,Wilson and two excellent young LBs in Karlos Danby and Gerald Hayes....what more do they want.GIVE CARDS SOME LOVE.Things are changing.

[kjbad]

Interesting...but meaningless. Did you notice the Cards actually FELL 11 spots in the rankings from last year?

After years of sweating at Sun Devil Stadium, any new digs probably would have stoked the Arizona faithful. Yet the University of Phoenix Stadium - boasting translucent "Bird-Air" fabric, plus 1,250 shade trees in the plaza - ranked only 20 places higher than last year. Maybe that's because the new pad still houses the same old team. The Cards went 5–11 (again), missed the playoffs (again) and dumped their coach (again). Too bad they can't open a new stadium (again) next year to give fans something to look forward to.

There's all you need to know right there. THe stadium is good enough for the BCS championship and the Super Bowl, but not good enough for Cards fans? Geez... :eek:

[NightHawk11and81]

Tired of reading about the draft, etc. so I logged into the ESPN site and they have this survey for all the pro franchises - baseball, football, basketball, and hockey - ranked from 1 through 122. The Cardinals came in 97th? This is a little puzzling to me and I thought I'd throw it out there for discussion. I certainly haven't been to all sports venues but I've been to quite a few over the years. No matter where I go when I'm traveling I'll see a sporting event if the home team is playing, just to check things out (OK, maybe not hockey so much) and I don't think the Cardinals deserve this low ranking. They based their rankings on several 'categories':

Bang for the buck - Cards rated 96 out of 122? How can that be? Where else can you go and get a comparable facility and pay $15 for a seat and ZERO to park? The Steelers are rated way up there and I've been to Heinz field. It's more expensive, the stadium is below average, and honestly doesn't compare (and I'm FROM there and that's my team - no discussion on that for this thread, please).

-This is based on wins for dollars, not fan experience.

Fan Relations - Score 97. The only thing I'm aware of is that security is overzealous and people have complained but nothing has changed. Any of my dealing with the Cards office has been great and the whole selection process for the new digs was as good as any in the league.

-Can't say anything here.

Owners - Score 108. It's the Bidwills, so no matter what they've done recently the score is probably valid.

-They deserve to be a little higher, somewhere in the 90's

Affordability - Score 63. C'mon, it's gotta be in the top 10!

-I would agree.

Stadium Ranking - Score 70. Are you kidding me? We don't have to be number 1 but it's gotta be in the top *******' 10. 70 is the BOTTOM HALF!!!

-This is a joke.

Players Ranking - Score 94. We might love our guys but 5-11 records year after year deserve this score.

-Accurately done here.

Coaches Ranking - Score 86. I don't even know how they can score a new coaching staff. Flip a coin?

-The score is low based on inexperience.

Titles - Score 109. Even this is goofy. How can we not be 122 after one title in a century?

-It's based partially on recent titles and partially on title prospects. There are other teams with no titles further away than the Cards.

It's certainly not easy to compare the NFL Cardinals with the NHL Sabres or the NBA Mavericks but I just don't see us ranking this low in fan satisfaction. I think the fans are disatified with the losing and the ownership but all the rest of it, is much much better. Or is it just me?

My responses indented.

[BullheadCardFan]

Interesting...but meaningless. Did you notice the Cards actually FELL 11 spots in the rankings from last year?

There's all you need to know right there. THe stadium is good enough for the BCS championship and the Super Bowl, but not good enough for Cards fans? Geez... :eek:

The stadium is beautiful and ultra modern .. no way it should be ranked so low ...

The first time I walked in I was awe struck .. I hope to make it down again this year ..

[SULLY]

i agree i took pictures of the roof just to take pictures of the roof. that place is great and it doesnt look like a airplane hanger like bank one (ill never call it chase) :49ers: tell me candle stick isnt ranked higher than us

[sixdart]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/franchiseRanks

[LarryCenters_rules]

WHAT A JOKE!!, There is no possible way the Phoenix Coyotes should be ranked ahead of the Arizona Cardinals.:banghead:

[kjbad]

WHAT A JOKE!!, There is no possible way the Phoenix Coyotes should be ranked ahead of the Arizona Cardinals.:banghead:

The Gretzky Factor...

[Tailgater]

WHAT A JOKE!!, There is no possible way the Phoenix Coyotes should be ranked ahead of the Arizona Cardinals.:banghead:

Totally agree. I went to one game this year on a Saturday night and the place was like a morgue. Kinda sad, really. With that strike and low attendance, I don't see how that franchise survives. Oh well,....back to football!

[saldawyz]

The stadium is beautiful and ultra modern .. no way it should be ranked so low ...

The first time I walked in I was awe struck .. I hope to make it down again this year ..

Same for me. I've never walked into a better, more impressive venue. I've been through the tunnel @ ASU on game night and that still wasn't as heart-stopping-ly beautiful as the first time @ Cards Stadium. Not many places can boast this. Notre Dame (God, I hate them), maybe. Not to mention UPS is located in the most lovely, most desirable area in the contiental United States. No way ESPN has it's junk together. :cardinals: :smallfootball:

[HAVACARDSFAN]

Same for me. I've never walked into a better, more impressive venue. I've been through the tunnel @ ASU on game night and that still wasn't as heart-stopping-ly beautiful as the first time @ Cards Stadium. Not many places can boast this. Notre Dame (God, I hate them), maybe. Not to mention UPS is located in the most lovely, most desirable area in the contiental United States. No way ESPN has it's junk together. :cardinals: :smallfootball:

You have mentioned hating Notre Dame before. Why all the dislike for ND? Just curious...

[Tailgater]

Same for me. I've never walked into a better, more impressive venue. :cardinals: :smallfootball:

I've been to 15 or so. I'll go with Tampa Bay. UoP would be next.