Caps Top DC Sports Teams
July 2, 2009
This just in: ESPN Ultimate Standings rank the Washington Capitals as the “best” team in the area – by a mile.
A young surging team, rabid fans and great ownership catapulted the team into the top 10 – ranking 6th overall out of 122 MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL franchises. Sadly – but not surprisingly – other DC area teams were clustered near the bottom.
The study looks at eight areas and here’s how we rank the Caps and the ‘Skins:
| Criteria | Capitals | Redskins |
| How efficiently team has converted money from fans into victories | Exceptional (but fans expect even more!) | Not so much |
| Loyalty of ownership & management to core players and community | Very well (although I wanted Federov to stay) | Misplaced loyalties re: players, complete disregard of fans |
| Price of tickets, parking, concessions | Very good, love Metro access & nearby restaurants | Not bad, but parking is overpriced and there’s no other way to get there |
| Quality of team’s stadium & promotions | Very good (except for slushy ice) | FedEx is falling apart |
| Strength of on-field leadership & coaching | Exceptional | Needs to improve |
| Number of championships won or likely to be won during fan’s lifetime | Best chance for DC fan to win a championship in near future | Glory days probably over, but fans still hopeful |
| Effort players put into game & likability off the field | Nobody plays harder or with more pure joy than the Great 8 | Depends on the player, but could improve |
| How open players, coaches & management are to the fans | Wonderful | Players and coaches, not bad; Management, no comment |
In other words, have to agree with ESPN – huge disparity among sports teams in this market
