The DENVER BRONCOS team has been sold in a groundbreaking deal worth $4.65 billion. The NFL franchise is now under the ownership of the Walton-Penner family, pending approval from the league.
Manchester United may also be on the verge of a record-breaking sale before the end of 2023, as the Glazers seek a staggering $10 billion. However, their current valuation doesn’t come close to the top performers in the industry.
The 21st century has ushered in a new era in sports, where clubs and teams are leveraged as lucrative entities, not just for winning trophies. For a long time, the cream of football’s elite could compete at the pinnacle of overall value. However, the current hierarchy of profit sees the Red Devils humbly placed 13th.
American Dominance: Top 10 Most Valuable Sports Teams
The upper echelon of sports organizations is now dominated by American sports franchises across various disciplines, with the National Football League taking the lead. In fact, seven of the top 10 most valuable teams in the world are American football teams, with the Dallas Cowboys claiming the top spot in Forbes’ latest rankings.
The Cowboys are valued at an astonishing $9.1 billion, a remarkable increase considering they were purchased by Jerry Jones for just $150 million in 1989. They hold a nearly $2 billion lead over their closest competitors, the New York Yankees.
Like their NFL counterparts, the Yankees have excelled in merchandising and fashion, becoming a colossal presence in the apparel industry, with an estimated value of over $5.5 billion.
Just above them are the seven-time NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors, and the six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots, tied for third place. The Warriors’ value has surged after winning four of the last nine NBA championships.
Two more NFL franchises follow closely in fifth and sixth positions: the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants teams respectively, both valued just below $5.5 billion. The Chicago Bears are ranked seventh with a value of $5 billion, ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders.
It’s worth noting that the Raiders have experienced the most significant five-year growth among the top 10 teams. Going from relative NFL obscurity to once again being title contenders, their value has increased by a remarkable 156%, largely influenced by their relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas.
Completing the top 10 are the New York Nets and New York Jets, each with a value just over $4.85 billion. The Knicks are one of only two NBA franchises to break into the top 10 most valuable sports teams, despite their last Finals victory dating back half a century.
Forbes’ Most Valuable Sports Teams in 2023
1. Dallas Cowboys – £7.2bn
2. New York Yankees – £5.67bn
3= Golden State Warriors – £5.6bn
3= New England Patriots – £5.6bn
5. Los Angeles Rams – £5.5bn
6. New York Giants – £5.4bn
7. Chicago Bears – £5bn
8. Las Vegas Raiders – £4.9bn
9= New York Knicks – £4.87bn
9= New York Jets – £4.87bn
11. Real Madrid – £4.85bn
12. Washington Commanders – £4.83bn
13= Manchester United – £4.8bn
13= San Francisco 49ers – £4.8bn
15. Los Angeles Lakers – £4.7bn
16. Philadelphia Eagles – £4.6bn
17. Miami Dolphins – £4.55bn
18= Barcelona – £4.4bn
18= Houston Texans – £4.4bn
20. Liverpool – £4.2bn
21. Denver Broncos – £4.1bn
22= Seattle Seahawks – £4bn
22= Manchester City – £4bn
24. Bayern Munich – £3.9bn
25. Los Angeles Dodgers – £3.8bn
