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Arizona Coyotes
Overall: 44
Title track: 100
Ownership: 88
Coaching: 31
Players: 66
Fan relations: 29
Affordability: 6
Stadium experience: 53
Bang for the buck: 43
Change from last year: -3
All things considered, the beleaguered Coyotes' being in the top half of the fan rankings should be treated as a moral victory of no small measure. Yes, the Yotes dropped slightly -- from 41st a year ago to 44th this year -- but for a team that continues to be plagued by issues relating to its very existence, the numbers could have been a lot uglier.
What's good
For a team that's never even appeared in the Stanley Cup finals, the Coyotes offer one of the most affordable pro sporting experiences in North America. They ranked sixth this year in that category, down one from a year ago, and their average ticket price is more than $17 cheaper than the league average. "We are constantly striving to enhance the overall fan experience, and we have benefits just being in this geography that other teams do not have," CEO Anthony LeBlanc said. "For example, this past season, we opened the Wicked Tango Terrace, a tremendous outdoor bar for our fans to enjoy." The Wicked Tango might help explain a 13-spot jump in stadium experience.
What's bad
The Coyotes' title track rating. That would be 100, fourth from the bottom in the league. It's the only category in which the Coyotes finished in triple digits, and it reflects their place in the standings: dead last in the Western Conference and 29th out of 30 teams. "We realize that the most important aspect of the fan experience is the quality of play on the ice," LeBlanc said. "We did not come close to achieving what we wanted to achieve last year. We will be a better team this year, and we will compete."
What's new
Does it seem like a million years ago since the Coyotes advanced to the Western Conference finals, or what? Actually, it was just three years ago, but the locals are getting antsy. Dave Tippett and his coaching staff took a hit this year, dropping from 18th to 31st in the coaching category. But that's still puts him in the top third of NHL coaches. Tippett remains one of the most respected coaches in the game, and the moment he's finished in Arizona, he'll be snapped up by an NHL franchise higher in our rankings.
Next: Florida Panthers | Full rankings