Rangers Dispute ESPN "Ultimate Team Rankings"
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 8, 2010 7:00 AM EDT
in Bantering Around
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PrintThe Rangers scoffed today at a recent ESPN "Most Likable Team" poll based on fan feedback that ranked the Rangers near the bottom in just about every category.
"Feedback Shmeedback!" said the Rangers in a not-so-official statement released only to Blueshirt Banter, "We vehemently (spend......) refute the results of this poll. It says we (join Blueshirts United) aren't fan-friendly, but just last season, one of our ushers held the door for a handicapped guy whose wheelchair (join Blueshirts United) got stuck in the doorway! Not to mention that we provide complimentary soap in at least five of the men's rooms in Madison Square Garden, and we have decided (1994) that we are not going to charge a "convenience fee" for (Mark Messier) the hand dryers. Sure, beer is $10, but the cup is free, as are the buckets your popcorn comes in, and those hot dog buns don't grow on trees people! The New York Rangers defy ESPN to find a more fan friendly (join Blueshirts United) organization than this one.
Also, it is rather interesting that ESPN (2010-11 season tickets now on sale) failed to mention in this story that both GM Glen Sather and Head Coach John Tortorella said "hello" to a fan last year, what more does ESPN want from us?
How could we be rated 96th in ownership (spend.....) loyalty to players? We gave Wade Redden a six year contract! We are lousy with loyalty! Chris Drury, Michal Rozsival, and the (join Blueshirts United) aforementioned Redden will be on hand for a special (Mark Messier) press conference to discuss ownership's loyalty to players later this week.
The New York Ranger organization has gone to great lengths (1994) to show that we are very friendly to fans that are willing to pay for that friendship, and we will continue to prove that every day."
"Oh by the way, ticket prices are going up, bring money."
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That’s shocking. I understand the Knicks though.
by It may HAVE to Last a Lifetime on Jul 8, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Just look at that smile on Messier's face
That’s fan friendly lol
by mjbnyr on Jul 8, 2010 7:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
not so fast
I’m not sure how I feel about this if this is about fan relations, which is different than team performance
The rangers treat their subs and bsu members far better than anything we’ve gotten from the mets or the giants in terms of benefits
Its rare u get to meet players and get backstage in sports and from what I’ve heard through family and friends the rangers do exactly that
by The Suit on Jul 8, 2010 8:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
in my mind i count ticket prices, and the raising of ticket prices, in fan relations. consistently bumping tickets up over the past decade despite only putting a mediocre team on the ice detracts from fan relations, it borders on exploitation. when you add that too obscene concession prices and a complete lack of communication between the front office and a diehard fan base, i would say your nearing pretty awful fan relations.
by BronxBeliever on Jul 8, 2010 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions
For ESPN’s purposes, “fan relations” was:
Players act professionally on and off the field (83rd/122 teams)
Players and owners show appreciation to the fans (96th)
Players accessible to fans (104th)
Provides avenue for fan feedback (107th)
Tickets/affordability where a different category.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Jul 8, 2010 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions
When you're in NYC...
you don’t need to treat the average fan properly, because there’s some other schmuck waiting behind them to get in the door. In New York, the management could have half the fans whacked, and still sell out every game.
In other cities where the fan base is not so huge and they have to lure people in with give-aways, and cheap prices, and all sorts of gimmicks. This is a generalization that doesn’t hold true across the board, but applies in some instances.
Fair point…but Rangers were still near the bottom among just NY-NJ teams:
24th Devs
27th Yankees
71st Isles
74th Jets
79th Giants
93rd Rangers
102nd Mets
113th Nets
120th Kincks
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Jul 8, 2010 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh I didn’t mean to imply that that was the only reason for the low ranking – I know they suck for other reasons… I just don’t think fan relations is high on their list.
No evidence for this, but I’ve got a feeling that the Dolans, more than any of the other owners, use their knowledge of my above point to their advantage. The other owners know that fans will likely show up anyway but still show their appreciation.
The other possibility could be that because MSG is the only area actually in Manhattan, they actually have to do even less than other owners to fill the seats, because on any given night, they may get hundreds (or even thousands) of people who are not even fans, but are just “taking in” the city; or even easier access for Corporate seats.
Whatever the reasons for them being near the bottom, I’m not surprised.
I’d put the knicks and rangers over the other local teams I’ve received sooo many surveys over the years asking for subscriber feedback and I’ve never received anything from anyone else
Plus the rangers are the only team with a fanclub, my buddy went to all these meet the team events last season, try getting the yanks or a football team to do that
by The Suit on Jul 8, 2010 11:59 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
envy
they just hate all new york teams because they envy how big of a fan base the teams have! :D
side note
was that planned renovation of msg put on hold for financial reasons?
nothing says fan-friendly like a massive facelift which will jack up ticket prices further
This from a man who thinks the plural of goose is sheep.
another disgruntled Jet fan that doesnt understand what its like to play w/ a torn bicep.
Favre 4 Ever
I Believe In Chris Drury
Really late reply
I wasn’t referring to his performance on the field, but his performance off. I didn’t want him on the Jets. His selfishness continues on this off-season, as he hamstrings organizational plans by not informing them of his decision to play.
Favre pulled a scumbag move on his way out of Green Bay… they asked him for a decision, and he gave it, then tried to renege on it. Aaron Rodgers was clearly going to succeed him, and Favre didn’t care to even speak to Rodgers, which had he any regard for anyone other than himself he would have done.
I don’t know why he’s gotten a pass on his behavior. All I think when I hear his name is “scumbag.”
I think this is pretty comical, actually, because it goes along with what all of us here at the Banter have been saying about the organization for months now. It is no coincidence that both the. Rangers AND Knicks are at the bottom of almost all categories together. There is a reason for that. Also, I like the way in which Jim presented this story. Lol
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers for SB Nation.
The Rangers Tribune: A hockey blog dedicated to covering the New York Rangers.
by Nick Montemagno on Jul 8, 2010 10:45 AM EDT reply actions
By the way, I am posting from my new iPad. This thing is unreal and I am thrilled it let’s me post on the Banter and my site. Anyone have one of these?
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers for SB Nation.
The Rangers Tribune: A hockey blog dedicated to covering the New York Rangers.
by Nick Montemagno on Jul 8, 2010 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
I object to some of this...
the Tampa Bay Rays don’t even have fans
Funny presentation Jim.
"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
- Sam Rosen
"Marian Gaborik.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
-Sam Rosen
Thanks, but nobody got my “lousy with loyalty” joke.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers
Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 8, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Is it a double entendre in that “lousy” means “full of” as well as “awful”
"Mes que un club"
"You're a pro or you're a noob. That's life"
"Luongo: He's better than Cloutier"
by Scratch and Snif on Jul 8, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
was that a dig at ron low?
doesn’t that seem like it was ten years ago?
wait a minute….
This from a man who thinks the plural of goose is sheep.
They also dick over their out of town fans
I live in ATL and watch them on Center Ice. The Rangers org in its brialliance blacks out the HD broadcast on MSG becuase they want people to sign up for their cable service (which of course is not avail) (for most of the year, and part of last year) So I watch all their games on the other teams channels. How’s that for building a fan base outside the hometown market?
The only upside is I don’t have to listen to michelleti, and I tune in between periods to hear Maloney’s take.
On an unrelated note, I hope the blues fire JD so he can come back to the Rangers Org. JD as Pres and Don Maloney as GM. Anyone else like to see that?
Where do we sign? Guarantee you there would be a shift in the way the Rangers are viewed by their fans with those two running things.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers
Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 8, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Amen….
Directv and the NHL have screwed over Ranger fans by blacking out MSG HD on and off since HD came around.
Trust us…nothing is worst than watching the Rangers on MSG standard Definition on a 60" HDTV….blurry fuzzy screen and this is before the drinks start flowing
Thank your friends at Cablevision
The Dolan’s are the one’s who refuse to license the HD broadcasts to other providers. But know that MSG and Cablevision are spearate corporations—-nothing will change because the dumb son is in charge.
by It may HAVE to Last a Lifetime on Jul 8, 2010 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Likewise for fios, I know for a fact that msg people have been trying to change that for years but dolan won’t allow it
by The Suit on Jul 8, 2010 6:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
jd could've been the gm in 1995
if keenan had won his power struggle with neil smith, gutkowski floated the idea to jd, who told him he didn’t want to talk about being gm as long as smith was still in the role
wouldn’t make a difference at this point who the gm is, the owner is the real problem and will continue to be the problem as long as he remains so
This from a man who thinks the plural of goose is sheep.
The Rangers’ image problem starts with the lack of communication from the top coupled with their lack of success. Both Sather nor Dolan are almost never available for interviews, and seem permanently off limits. This tend to piss off high paying customers when they have been given crap. Public accountability trumps cloistered withdrawl every time. By contrast, look at how Prokhorov is showing his humanity, his humor. He seems to be a PR master. He asks Mike Francesa “Where is the Mad Dog?” That billboard stunt was great. He’s got me rooting for Brooklyn already and the team isn’t even here yet> and Iv’e been rooting for the Knicks my whole life. I also now live in Brooklyn, My problem with Dolan as a Knick fan was that he fired the best thing they had, Marv Albert. I know he was critical. Bad fan move. Really bad fan move. Dolan’s problem with Ranger fans is even worse in that, in that it starts with the fact that he couldn’t give two shits about hockey. I wonder how common this is among owners of a hockey team. I have no idea.
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Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York Rangers
|
52 | 34 | 13 | 5 | 73 |
|
Philadelphia
|
54 | 31 | 16 | 7 | 69 |
|
New Jersey
|
54 | 31 | 19 | 4 | 66 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
54 | 30 | 19 | 5 | 65 |
|
New York Islanders
|
53 | 22 | 23 | 8 | 52 |
(updated 2.11.2012 at 8:02 AM EST)
Rangers Schedule
Next 5 Games
|
Washington
|
Sun 02/12 | 3:00 PM EST |
|
@
Boston
|
Tue 02/14 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Chicago
|
Thu 02/16 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Columbus
|
Sun 02/19 | 8:00 PM EST |
|
@
Pittsburgh
|
Tue 02/21 | 7:00 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Sat 02/11 | W 5 - 2 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
Thu 02/09 | OT - W 4 - 3 |
|
New Jersey
|
Tue 02/07 | L 0 - 1 |
|
Philadelphia
|
Sun 02/05 | W 5 - 2 |
|
@
Buffalo
|
Wed 02/01 | SO - W 1 - 0 |
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