Dan Spiegel: Surprise! Panthers Are The 7th Best Franchise In All Of Sports

I don't understand... This is not a slam on the Panthers, they are a fine hockey team, but any list that has them - Or any hockey team, really - in the top 10 overall sports franchises is super suspect.

There's just no way that any list of franchises would put the Panthers higher than, say, the Habs, Bruins, or Penguins.

And Tampa no. 1 overall? In all of sports?

I don't understand... This is not a slam on the Panthers, they are a fine hockey team, but any list that has them - Or any hockey team, really - in the top 10 overall sports franchises is super suspect.

There's just no way that any list of franchises would put the Panthers higher than, say, the Habs, Bruins, or Penguins.
- Mr_Clean

The "bang for your buck" and "overall value" categories are where the survey goes off the rails. They are weighed far too heavily in the formula used here.

Take it with a grain of salt. But, the hockey fans in the Southeast deserve good value, good entertainment and some good press.

There's no surprise here Dan the man. With the best centre in all of hockey playing for you & having the most committed organisation in the whole of whatever you measure that against, it's only normal to reap the rewards!!

Imagine what's going to happen if/when you win Stanley?


Edit: Now if only those damn refs would stop (frank)ing you guys backwards........

I stopped reading at "ESPN". There's a reason "entertainment" comes before "sports" in their name. Sure, ok, you're #7 according to a despicable network. Congrats!
Now, onto more important things...

& still no 1 goes to their games. Paid attendance the other night a little over 12K building looked empty on TV & that was just the lower bowl, camara never panned the upper bowl once.

I don't get it. I noticed during the playoffs the awful music the Panthers arena plays. It's hard to go to war with a dance party playing in the background. How do you get pumped up listening to Bieber and Beyoncé and Kanye? You arnt trying to pick up chicks you are trying to beat the crap out of the other team. And think about it, the Penguins are 11? Who just won the cup? Who has made the playoffs the last 11'years in a row? Who has won 4 cups in the last 25 years? Won 15 Art Ross trophies and 16 Hart?? Who has the best owner in the entire league who also is the best player to ever play? Drafted and developed 4 of the best players to ever play? Florida has made great strides but they pail in comparison.

Go Florida... this is how the sport grows... its a long game but it works. Winning (combined with star players) starts a chain reaction that grows the sport in the area... developing more rinks, leagues, talent development. Pittsburgh exploded during the Lemieux years... and that led to Pittsburgh (and surrounding areas) being the most represented city on team NA. Keep it up!

Florida Panthers:

Team valuation = 30th
Revenue = 28th
Operating Income= 30th (- $20.2 million)

http://www.forbes.com/nhl...alueList_sortreverse:true

Not to take anything away from the Panthers because they are definitely headed in the right direction, but let me know when ESPN actually becomes a credible source for covering the NHL and hockey in general.

I stopped reading at "ESPN". There's a reason "entertainment" comes before "sports" in their name. Sure, ok, you're #7 according to a despicable network. Congrats!
Now, onto more important things...
- T-Train

ESPN is a freakin joke They offer nothing to sports fans in general Only the idiots continue to watch that station It is like watching the Democratic National convention 24 hours a day 7 days a week What a Joke

I don't get it. I noticed during the playoffs the awful music the Panthers arena plays. It's hard to go to war with a dance party playing in the background. How do you get pumped up listening to Bieber and Beyoncé and Kanye? You arnt trying to pick up chicks you are trying to beat the crap out of the other team. And think about it, the Penguins are 11? Who just won the cup? Who has made the playoffs the last 11'years in a row? Who has won 4 cups in the last 25 years? Won 15 Art Ross trophies and 16 Hart?? Who has the best owner in the entire league who also is the best player to ever play? Drafted and developed 4 of the best players to ever play? Florida has made great strides but they pail in comparison.
- Dcoms

For once in your life you got it right Could not have said it better myself

well that list is a joke, I can name 7 NHL franchises way ahead of the Panthers... how can a team that loses millions every year and only sells tickets if they win be 7th what a joke

I don't get it. I noticed during the playoffs the awful music the Panthers arena plays. It's hard to go to war with a dance party playing in the background. How do you get pumped up listening to Bieber and Beyoncé and Kanye? You arnt trying to pick up chicks you are trying to beat the crap out of the other team. And think about it, the Penguins are 11? Who just won the cup? Who has made the playoffs the last 11'years in a row? Who has won 4 cups in the last 25 years? Won 15 Art Ross trophies and 16 Hart?? Who has the best owner in the entire league who also is the best player to ever play? Drafted and developed 4 of the best players to ever play? Florida has made great strides but they pail in comparison.
- Dcoms

Wayne Gretzky was the best player to ever play, but he isnt an owner.

I'm all happy that Florida has turned everything around. And I could not be any happier for Roberto Luongo.

Now can you please tell me how is the attendance doing there? There is absolutely no reason that attendance figures should still be low. After the season the Panthers had last year I would expect a huge increase in season ticket sales and more bums in the seats. Nashville proved me wrong. That is a great success story.

But if you are still drawing only 8000 fans then one still has to question the long term success for this team.

Like I said I hope it works well down there.

well that list is a joke, I can name 7 NHL franchises way ahead of the Panthers... how can a team that loses millions every year and only sells tickets if they win be 7th what a joke
- Bigern4MVP

You have to look at the criteria. Some very good teams have very ,very expensive ticket and concession prices.

Dan Spiegel: Surprise! Panthers Are The 7th Best Franchise In All Of Sports
- spiegs13

You totally side stepped the criteria of this list and just go on to call them the ' best'. Youre a terrible troll bait writer.

I don't get it. I noticed during the playoffs the awful music the Panthers arena plays. It's hard to go to war with a dance party playing in the background. How do you get pumped up listening to Bieber and Beyoncé and Kanye? You arnt trying to pick up chicks you are trying to beat the crap out of the other team. And think about it, the Penguins are 11? Who just won the cup? Who has made the playoffs the last 11'years in a row? Who has won 4 cups in the last 25 years? Won 15 Art Ross trophies and 16 Hart?? Who has the best owner in the entire league who also is the best player to ever play? Drafted and developed 4 of the best players to ever play? Florida has made great strides but they pail in comparison.
- Dcoms

(frank), you're salty about them being higher than the team you root for on a arbitrary list.

Sorry but Bobby Orr is the best of all time

Wayne Gretzky was the best player to ever play, but he isnt an owner.

- Larsson_fan

Lemieux > Gretzky.

I don't care how many points Gretz put up during his career -- he was never plagued with injuries nor did he miss 3 prime years battling a critical disease and then come back to finish 2nd in Hart voting. Mario was a beast and the greatest offensive player of all-time.

Best player? Orr may have something to say about that...

These standings make no sense. If the panthers charge sp little for their games and sell poorly when losing but ok when winning how is that sustainable?
The Canucks charge double that and sell almost as well as Florida does when they're winning when Vancouvers losing.


What's better?

"& still no 1 goes to their games. Paid attendance the other night a little over 12K building looked empty on TV & that was just the lower bowl, camara never panned the upper bowl once."

^ this

The Florida building is like an empty funeral home, there is more excitement in my garage.

Lemieux > Gretzky.

I don't care how many points Gretz put up during his career -- he was never plagued with injuries nor did he miss 3 prime years battling a critical disease and then come back to finish 2nd in Hart voting. Mario was a beast and the greatest offensive player of all-time.

Best player? Orr may have something to say about that...
- mjones242

Durability is part of it. Facts are facts. Wayne Gretzky played more years past his prime and still has a higher points per game than Mario. Sorry. Hes the GOAT by a very large margin, only haters and disagreeable people try to argue otherwise.

1.Wayne
2.Orr
3.Mario

Lemieux > Gretzky.

I don't care how many points Gretz put up during his career -- he was never plagued with injuries nor did he miss 3 prime years battling a critical disease and then come back to finish 2nd in Hart voting. Mario was a beast and the greatest offensive player of all-time.

Best player? Orr may have something to say about that...
- mjones242

You have to take longevity into account when ranking these guys. Gretzky is the best offensive player ever and it's not close.