Charted: The most valuable sports franchises in the world
| The National Football League dominates the list
Professional sports is a multi-billion dollar industry. From tickets sales to advertising and sports betting revenue to brand partnerships, there are a number of ways for professional sports to generate revenue, all of which contribute to the valuation of the teams and the leagues they compete in.
Despite the popularity of soccer, American football teams are the ones dominating the Forbes list of the world’s 50 most valuable sports franchises in 2022. Together, the value of these teams comes in at a cool $222 billion USD.
To say the The National Football League (NFL) dominates the list is an understatement - 30 of the league’s 32 teams made the list, more than any other league by a long shot.
| Cost of ownership
According to recent data, professional sports teams have experienced a significant surge in value over the past few years. Since 2017, the average value of the teams on Forbes list of the 50 most valuable sports franchises has seen a remarkable increase of 78 percent. This tremendous boost can be attributed to several factors, including escalating broadcast rights deals, lucrative sponsorship agreements, and the ever-growing popularity of sports globally. Additionally, the increasing globalization of sports has opened up new revenue streams, allowing teams to tap into international markets and expand their fan base. As a result, team owners and investors have witnessed substantial returns on their investments, making professional sports franchises increasingly valuable assets in today's market.
The average value of the top 50 most valuable teams in 2022 was $4.45 billion USD, almost a billion more than in 2021. The Dallas Cowboys, the most expensive sports team the world, was valued at $8 billion, while the last team on the list, was valued at $3.1 billion USD.
| The most valuable sports teams
The most valuable team is the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, who are worth $8 billion USD. They have held the top spot since 2016. Three other NFL teams - New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants - and the Major Baseball League’s New York Yankees round out the top five.
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