Updated: July 1, 2009, 12:18 PM ET

Ultimate Standings 2009: No. 93

New York Rangers

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By Molly Knight
ESPN The Magazine
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Last Year's Rank: 79
Title Track: 48
Ownership: 83
Coaching: 46
Players: 100
Fan Relations: 77
Affordability: 117
Stadium Experience: 66
Bang for the Buck: 97

Recession? What recession? The Rangers hiked average ticket prices 9.2% last season, to $54.96, and the average premium (read: lower level) stub goes for a whopping $254.98, or $93.18 more than the rinkside seats of next-priciest club the Flyers. There's more: Those who dare drive to the Garden are hit with $20 parking fees (highest in the league) and $10 programs (ditto). The good news? Many game-goers ride the $2 (oops, that's going up too!) subway to Penn Station, and New Yorkers who must drive are used to overpaying for everything anyway. But transportation accounts for only part of the aggravation. The Rangers were hot to begin the season before a February meltdown cost coach Tom Renney his job, in favor of John Tortorella. After blowing a 3–1 first-round series lead to the Caps, fans were left with these consoling thoughts for the future: 1) four players -- Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Henrik Lundqvist and free agent bust Wade Redden -- account for 51% of the team's cap space and are locked up long term; and 2) the team announced a 7-10% ticket-price increase for next season. Recession? What recession?