Colts Rank 4th In All of Sports in ESPN The Magazine
Ultimate Standings
The Colts' combination of on-the-field and off-the-field success has gained recognition by ESPN The Magazine in its eighth annual Ultimate Standings, a measure of how NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL franchises give back to their fans.
The Colts saw marked improvement in 2009, not only on the field with a 14-2 record and a second Super Bowl appearance in four years, but also with a No. 4 ranking in the 2010 Ultimate Standings, up from No. 14 last year. The Colts were one of three NFL franchises among the Top 10, trailing only the New Orleans Saints, who finished No. 1 overall.
The eight categories considered in the Ultimate Standings are listed below, and the Colts ranked in the Top 10 in six of the eight categories:
Bang for the Buck- Wins during the past three years (regular season plus post-season) per revenues directly from fans, adjusted for league schedules (Rank-8th).
Fan Relations- Openness and consideration toward fans by players, coaches and management (Rank-6th).
Ownership- Honesty and loyalty to core players and local community (Rank-9th).
Affordability- Price of tickets, parking and concessions (Rank-39th).
Stadium Experience- Quality of arena and game-day promotions as well as friendliness of environment (8th).
Players- Effort on the field and likeability off it (Rank-3rd).
Coaching- Strength of on-field leadership (Rank-46th).
Title Track- Championships already won or expected in the lifetime of current fans (Rank-3rd).
The Top 10 franchises in the Ultimate Standings were as follows:
- New Orleans Saints
- Orlando Magic
- Los Angeles Angels
- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Tampa Bay Rays
- San Antonio Spurs
- Detroit Red Wings
- Green Bay Packers
- Cleveland Cavaliers
The Colts ranked No. 1 in 2008, and have ranked in the Top 10 since 2005.
