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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Overall: 73
Title track: 33
Ownership: 81
Coaching: 79
Players: 82
Fan relations: 89
Affordability: 40
Stadium experience: 71
Bang for the buck: 92
Change from last year: +18
When you're a Bucs fan, even a six-win season is something to celebrate (it was only the team's third season since 2009 with at least six wins). So thanks to cheap seats, cheap eats and a somewhat promising outlook, Tampa Bay faithful jumped their squad up 18 spots this year, just outside the NFL's top half.
What's good
The Bucs' best ranking comes in affordability, up 17 spots since last year, and indeed, they have the distinction of offering the second-cheapest tickets in the NFL, just $64 on average for 2015. Even after a 24 percent increase this year, Tampa Bay has among the NFL's lowest prices thanks to an eight-year period without a hike. Even on the secondary market, the median single-game ticket is $162, more expensive only than admission to a Jags game. The Bucs' $25 parking is $6 below the NFL's average, and soda and hot dog prices sit below the average, as well. Considering that the Bucs haven't finished above .500 since 2010 and haven't won a division title since 2007, the team is wise to keep these costs down as it rebuilds its fan base.
What's bad
An 89th-place ranking in fan relations speaks to the Bucs' initial resistance to special-interest events (their event last year, "Women of RED," caught a ton of flak nationally for what critics deemed was an embarrassingly sexist initiative to teach women about football). Since then, though, the group hosted a Mom's Football Safety Clinic, sponsored a BizWomen Summit, and its second-annual Invasion event was actually centered around football with topics like "Inside the War Room" and "Rookie Rundown." It appears the Bucs have learned their lesson! The team also hosted an event for young professionals and created the Bucs Squad Youth Program, a free kids club with a large, interactive play park during training camp, a special Kids Day practice, kids-only autograph lines, a birthday shoutout from players and a special Bucs Squad tailgate. This ranking could jump in 2017.
What's new
Tampa Bay's stadium experience ranking -- already up 13 spots from 2015 -- should again improve considerably once fans experience Phase 1 of the two-part, $140 million renovation project at Raymond James Stadium. The giant new HD video boards are 28,000+ square feet, the third-largest video space in the NFL, and the surround sound is crystal clear. The new Hall of Fame Club luxury suites are fully air-conditioned with plush leather seats, full liquor bars and large buffet stations. But don't worry -- that majestic pirate ship in the north end zone is still there. It's just that even the ship is dwarfed by a giant screen now.
Next: New York Giants | Full rankings