One week after being named by Businessweek as the smartest spenders in professional sports, the Tampa Bay Rays are back on top of another kind of financial standings.
The Rays were named Friday as the most affordable franchise in pro sports by ESPN The Magazine, which published its 10th annual “Ultimate Standings,” ranking the 122 MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL franchises across eight different categories based on fan feedback.
In addition, the Rays finished No. 5 overall in coaching and No. 8 overall in bang for the buck.
This is the sixth straight year the Rays have ranked among the top three in affordability. Only the San Antonio Spurs, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Boston Celtics are ranked higher in coaching.
Overall, the Rays ranked 16th of the 122 franchises and fourth among MLB teams, the third time in four years they’ve cracked the top 20.
