TORONTO – The Ottawa Senators are the top ranked professional sports team in Canada.
The Sens were ranked 9th among 122 professional sports franchises in North America according to ESPN the Magazine’s 2013 Ultimate Standings.
The news didn’t take long to filter down in the country’s capital.
“Our fans are always one of the Senators organization’s most important priorities. This year’s ESPN ranking is a testament to the ongoing commitment of our entire organization to continually focus on providing the best possible experience for our great fans,” said Senators owner Eugene Melnyk in a media release.
The rankings, which are based on fan surveys and financial analysis, looked at eight criterias that included ownership, coaching, affordability and bang for the buck.
The top team ended up being the Memphis Grizzlies with high scores for ownership, coaching and stadium experience.
As for other Canadian sports franchises, the Montreal Canadiens were ranked 63, Winnipeg Jets at 80, Vancouver Canucks at 99, Calgary Flames at 105 and the Edmonton Oilers at 110.
Professional sports teams in Toronto didn’t fare too well.
The Blue Jays came out on top at 100, followed by the Raptors at 108 and the Maple Leafs at 119.
Major League Soccer and Canadian Football League teams were not added to the list.
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