| 01 July 2009
"Last Year's Rank: 15
Title Track: 92
Ownership: 34
Coaching: 29
Players: 96
Fan Relations: 60
Affordability: 56
Stadium Experience: 69
Bang for the Buck: 23
Salt Lake City has long loved its hoops team, mostly because the hoops team has longed loved SLC. Cherished late owner Larry Miller funneled millions into the community through his charitable organizations. And this year, the Jazz amped up fans and EnergySolutions Arena -- arguably the league's loudest building already -- with new sound and light systems. It was the least they could do for their nearly 14,000 season ticket-holders (the largest season ticket fan base in the NBA) besides maintaining an already lengthened dollar (a game cost that's 11% below league average). But 2008-09 was a bit of a bear nonetheless -- and not of the team's fuzzy mascot variety. An unstable and injury-marred season saw the Jazz regress from 54 wins to 48 and a meek first-round playoff exit, and suddenly fans were wondering if after 21 campaigns, 1,137 wins and 18 postseason trips, coach Jerry Sloan might never deliver an O'Brien. Plus, where once HOFers Stockton and Malone embraced their town, star forward Carlos Boozer seems bent on getting out of Dodge. And the new sheriff, Greg Miller, who has publicly questioned Boozer's defense and leadership qualities, doesn't seem too concerned with keeping him. Is this the end of a beautiful friendship?"
Some statistics in this article are baffling, the Utah Jazz have the largest season ticket holder fan base in the NBA.
I believe that the passing of Larry and Retirement of "Hot Rod" dramatically affect the rankings. I still got my tickets. -S
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