(MONEY Magazine) – A cheap ticket? A superstar? A good seat? To measure what fans want when they go to a game, MONEY commissioned a nationwide poll by ICR Survey Research Group of Media, Pa. Based on how teams met these needs, we ranked in order all 83 in baseball, basketball and football. Our scoring system was weighted to take into account the relative importance of each factor to the fans; for example, adequate parking or good public transportation is their No. 1 priority (a complete list of factors, according to preference, is in the main story). Seventy top sportswriters and columnists (see the list on page 162) shared their expertise; 34 judged comfort, cleanliness and crowd control; 36 chose the best 10 players in the sport they cover regularly (those athletes boosted their teams' ranks by making our "star power" list). Stadium vendors supplied prices of hot dogs and sodas (fans want to pay less than $2 and $1.50, respectively). Winning percentages were based on regular-season records: the 1993 season in football, 1993-94 in basketball, and baseball games played in 1994 before the strike. A close game was defined as one decided by two runs or less in baseball, four points or less in basketball and six points or less in football. Because 44% of fans polled said football was the sport they were most interested in, 27% picked baseball and only 18% basketball, all football and baseball teams received proportionate bonus points. A team also received bonus points if it had beer-free sections, which fans considered a plus, or was reigning world champion of its sport. Total scores show how close a team came to a perfect 100. In a tie, the team with lower average cost for parking, two tickets, hot dogs and sodas was ranked higher. -- J.K.

CHART: NOT AVAILABLE CREDIT: Sources: Momentum Development Inc.; Team Marketing Report and the teams Sportswriters and columnists consulted: Jeff Aberbach, Davis Enterprise (Calif.), Jeff Baker, The Oregonian, Don Banks, St. Petersburg Times, John Bansch, Indianapolis Star, Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times (Calif.), Mark Bradley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Rick Braun, Milwaukee Sentinel, Curtis Bunn, New York Daily News, Jim Burton, Standard Examiner (Utah), Tom Canavan, Associated Press, Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, Kelly Carter, Orange County Register (Calif.), Vic Carucci, Buffalo News, Dan Cook, San Antonio Express-News, Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Greg Cote, Miami Herald, Paul Domowitch, Philadelphia Daily News, John Eisenberg, Baltimore Sun, Bob Finnan, News Herald (Ohio), Joe Fitzgerald, Boston Herald, Tom Gage, Detroit News, Bob Glauber, Newsday Sports (N.Y.), Ron Green Sr., Charlotte Observer (N.C.), Tony Grossi, Plain Dealer (Ohio), Paul Hagen, Philadelphia Daily News, Cathy Harasta, Dallas Morning News, Larry Henry, The Herald (Wash.), Mickey Herskowitz, Houston Post, John Hickey, Oakland Tribune, Stan Hochman, Philadelphia Daily News, Dale Hofmann, Milwaukee Sentinel, Neil Hohlfeld, Houston Chronicle, Paul Hoynes, Plain Dealer (Ohio), Bob Hurt, Arizona Republic, Bob Jacobsen, Arizona Republic, Phil Jasner, Philadelphia Daily News, Bob Kravitz, Rocky Mountain News (Colo.), Pierre Ladouceur, La Presse (Canada), Bernie Lincicome, Chicago Tribune, Jackie MacMullen, Boston Globe, Jerry Magee, San Diego Union-Tribune, Allan Malamud, Los Angeles Times, Hal McCoy, Dayton Daily News, Will McDonough, Boston Globe, Tom McEwen, Tampa Tribune, Corky Meinecke, Detroit Free Press, Paul Meyer, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette, Dick Mittman, Indianapolis News, David Moore, Dallas Morning News, Mike Mulligan, Chicago Sun-Times, Gary Myers, New York Daily News, Milt Northrop, Buffalo News, Bob Oates, Los Angeles Times, Dan O'Neill, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, Tim Povtak, Orlando Sentinel, Patrick Reusse, Star Tribune (Minn.), Bob Rubin, Miami Herald, Joe Sanchez, Denver Post, Len Shapiro, Washington Post, Michael Smith, Gaston Gazette (N.C.), Jimmy Smith, New Orleans Times-Picayune, Alan Solomon, Chicago Tribune, Tim Sullivan, Cincinnati Enquirer, Mike Tulumello, Mesa Tribune (Ariz.), Bob Verdi, Chicago Tribune, George Vecsey, New York Times, Charlie Vincent, Detroit Free Press, Mike Weber, Newark Star-Ledger, Steve Weston, Phoenix Gazette CAPTION: NO CAPTION