Forbes Ranks 50 Most Valuable Sports Franchises
By Ryan Mayer CBS Local Sports
This year's edition of the 50 most valuable sports franchises has been released by Forbes and one thing is for sure; life is good if you're an owner of a sports franchise. The top valuation goes to the La Liga club Real Madrid valued at $3.26 billion while the lowest team(s) to make it were the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Mavericks, and Atlanta Braves tied for 50th valued at $1.15 billion.
Unsurprisingly, the NFL is king of the USA's 4 major sports leagues placing 20 of its 32 teams in the Top 50. The MLB and NBA were next with 12 and 10 teams, respectively which is up from a total of 10 teams last year. The NHL landed one team in the Top 50 with the Toronto Maple Leafs checking in at number 37.
The NFL sits atop all other leagues in terms of TV revenue with network deals worth $5 billion last year, not including the DirecTV deal worth $1.5 billion. The NBA will make up ground with their new TV deal with TNT and ESPN that will start in 2016. The full list of teams is below:
1) Real Madrid- $3.26 billion
2t) Dallas Cowboys- $3.2 billion
2t) New York Yankees- $3.2 billion
4) FC Barcelona- $3.16 billion
5) Manchester United $3.1 billion
6t) Los Angeles Lakers- $2.6 billion
6t) New England Patriots- $2.6 billion
8) New York Knicks- $2.5 billion
9t) Los Angeles Dodgers- $2.4 billion
9t) Washington Redskins- $2.4 billion
11) Bayern Munich- $2.35 billion
12t) Boston Red Sox- $2.1 billion
12t) New York Giants- $2.1 billion
14t) Chicago Bulls- $2 billion
14t) San Francisco Giants- $2 billion
16) Houston Texans- $1.85 billion
17t) Chicago Cubs- $1.8 billion
17t) New York Jets- $1.8 billion
19) Philadelphia Eagles- $1.75 billion
20t) Boston Celtics- $1.7 billion
20t) Chicago Bears- $1.7 billion
22t) Los Angeles Clippers- $1.6 billion
22t) San Francisco 49ers- $1.6 billion
24) Baltimore Ravens- $1.5 billion
25) Brooklyn Nets- $1.5 billion
26) Denver Broncos- $1.45 billion
27t) Indianapolis Colts- $1.4 billion
27t) St. Louis Cardinals- $1.4 billion
29t) Green Bay Packers- $1.38 billion
29t) Manchester City- $1.39 billion
31) Chelsea- $1.37 billion
32t) Ferrari- $1.35 billion
32t) New York Mets- $1.35 billion
32t) Pittsburgh Steelers- $1.35 billion
35) Seattle Seahawks- $1.33 billion
36) Arsenal- $1.31 billion
37t) Golden State Warriors- $1.3 billion
37t) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim- $1.3 billion
37t) Miami Dolphins- $1.3 billion
37t) Toronto Maple Leafs- $1.3 billion
41) Washington Nationals- $1.28 billion
42t) Carolina Panthers- $1.25 billion
42t) Houston Rockets- $1.25 billion
42t) Philadelphia Phillies- $1.25 billion
45) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- $1.23 billion
46) Texas Rangers- $1.22 billion
47) Miami Heat- $1.18 billion
48) Tennessee Titans- $1.16 billion
49) Atlanta Braves- $1.15 billion
49) Dallas Mavericks- $1.15 billion
49) Minnesota Vikings- $1.15 billion
Ryan Mayer is an Associate Producer for CBS Local Sports. Ryan lives in NY but comes from Philly and life as a Philly sports fan has made him cynical. Anywhere sports are being discussed, that's where you'll find him. Agree/Disagree? Thoughts, comments, complaints? Email or tweet him.