In just two years, the Nationals have jumped 60 places in the ESPN The Magazine's annual attempt to rank all 122 major professional sports teams.
The seemingly unstoppable Washington Nationals have a chance to win 100 games this year, only three years after losing 100 games, so it's not surprising to see them soaring up the list in ESPN The Magazine's annual "Ultimate Standings."
The Washington Capitals, however, are going the other way, almost as fast.
In just two years, the Nationals have jumped 60 places in the magazine's annual attempt to rank all 122 major professional sports teams based on variety of common factors, including "bang for the buck," "fan relations," "stadium experience," "affordability" and player and coach quality. The Nationals now rate as the 34th best franchise in all of major pro sports, up from No. 94 in 2010.
Nationals Chief Operating Officer Andrew Feffer said the team is proud to see its hard work in improving the fan experience pay off.
"For a successful sports franchise to work, you really need a competitive team on the field as well as a great fan experience," Feffer said. "When you have both those things working together, that?s when the magic happens. And we've certainly had that this season."
Meanwhile, the Capitals ? who are still plenty competitive despite a recent falloff ? have managed to fall from No. 11 in 2010 to No. 68 today. The Capitals' decline is seen most acutely in the "bang for the buck" category (from No.11 to No. 72), and in the players and coaches categories. "Fan relations" and affordability have also declined for the hockey team.
The magazine doesn't go into great detail, but it's not hard to see why the numbers might end up differently for the Caps, who have raised ticket prices in five consecutive years while not winning quite as often. The Capitals declined to comment.
Ben Fischer covers health care and law.
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