What Are the Most Valuable Sports Franchises?

It’s no secret that the world of sports is big business. Although sports teams may not be worth as much as Apple (AAPL) or General Motors (GM), these sports franchises are still a billion-dollar fortune to their owners.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are by far the most valuable sports franchise in the world. Owned by businessman Jerry Jones since 1989, the Cowboys have an estimated net worth of $ 5.5 billion – half a billion dollars more than the next most valuable sports franchise...

The Cowboys benefit from the NFL’s massive television, merchandising and licensing deals that make the team hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Additional sponsorships such as stadium sponsor AT&T contribute to the team’s sales of nearly one billion dollars...

Known as “America’s Team,” the Cowboys are one of the most successful franchises in NFL history. With five Super Bowl wins, including three in four years shortly after Jones bought the team, the Cowboys brand is synonymous with success. However, the team’s sporting reputation has suffered in recent years; The Cowboys have not won two playoff games in a row since 1995..Fortunately for Jerry Jones, those stumbling blocks haven’t negatively affected his team’s sky-high worth.

New York Yankees

The second largest sports franchise in the world with a net worth of $ 5 billion is the New York Yankees. Valued at over $ 1.5 billion more than the next highest franchise, the Yankees are by far the most valuable baseball team in the world..Most of the Yankees’ worth comes from their access to the New York market and their brand as the most successful MLB franchise of all time. The Yankees have won twenty-seven World Series titles, most of the titles any single team has held in any major American sport...

Like all MLB teams, the Yankees benefit from major television and sponsorship deals. For example, the MLB television deal signed with Fox in 2018 is worth 50% more than the previous deal. The New York team is also heavily involved in the regional television network YES Network, the most popular regional sports network in the country. Tickets, concessions, and merchandise sold at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx add to the $ 683 million the franchise makes each year...

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks, the second New York franchise on this list, is valued at $ 4.6 billion. Similar to the Yankees, the Knicks’ value is based on their prevalence in key New York media markets and the value of their historic Madison Square Garden stadium..While the Knicks may not have the historical or current success of their New York counterpart, a lack of victorious basketball hasn’t prevented the Knicks from being the most valuable basketball team in the world.

As with the NFL and MLB, national television deals NBA franchises like the Knicks make tens of millions of dollars annually. Because of their popularity in New York, the Knicks also make up to a hundred million dollars a year from their local television business..The NBA’s new kit sponsorships opened up new revenue streams, and the Knicks quickly added Squarespace as a kit sponsor in 2017. ..

While the Knicks didn’t seem to be feeling the financial impact of years of persistent mediocrity, the team could struggle to attract fans in the near future. Without high-profile stars and a few promising young players, the Knicks are no longer a top target for star-free agents like Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving. Instead, these players can turn to the city’s other basketball team, the Brooklyn Nets, where Durant and Irving signed in 2019.

Los angeles lakers

The $ 4.4 billion Los Angeles Lakers is the second NBA franchise on this list. Just like the Knicks, the Lakers benefit from a large media market in their hometown..While the franchise has consistently been more successful than its New York counterparts, they’re still a little less valuable than the Knicks. Still, the team’s long history of championships adds to the strength of its brand. Overall, the Lakers are the fourth most important sports franchise in the world.

The Lakers’ greatest financial asset is their place as a team from Los Angeles, the second largest media market in the United States. The Staples Center may not have the clout of Madison Square Garden, but gate revenue and arena sponsorship still add to the team’s revenue. The Lakers added a shirt sponsor, Wish mobile shopping app, to a three-year contract worth $ 30 million in 2017...

Led by Lebron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers won the 2019/20 NBA finals and became NBA champions in 2020. The trophy is 17th on the team that most connects the Lakers with the Boston Celtics in the NBA...

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are the fifth largest sports franchise and the third largest basketball team in the world. They used their recent success to become a global name. After five direct finals and three titles, the Warriors are now worth $ 4.3 billion, right behind the Lakers and Knicks..The team’s rating is even more impressive when you consider that the Warriors lack the natural exposure of their two competitors. The market in the Bay Area is certainly big, but it cannot be compared to the gigantic markets of Los Angeles and New York. Rather than relying on the media market or historical brand, the Warriors built their valuation through dominance in the field and smart deals assumed that.

Star players and the championships they acquire are key to Warriors’ success. Without Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors wouldn’t be sitting anywhere near the high point of home games in the league. The team signed the league’s largest jersey sponsorship deal with Rakuten for a staggering $ 60 million: the company’s logo will adorn the jerseys of some of the league’s most marketable stars..After television and royalty funds, the franchise grossed $ 440 million in 2020...

As the teams on this list prove, arenas can add significant value to a sports team. So it was no surprise when the team funded a new arena that opened in 2019. The rights to the Warriors’ new home were then sold to Chase for $ 300 million. The Warriors are quickly securing $ 2 billion in revenue from the stadium ahead of its opening, and the Chase Center promises to continue to generate returns...

In 2010, the Warriors were bought for $ 450 million. Its value has increased by almost 1000% since then...