Forbes values Saints at $1.52 billion
Dallas Cowboys the most valuable sports franchise in the world
This week, Forbes released their 18th annual listing of the most valuable teams in the National Football League. According to the magazine, the average NFL team is worth $1.97 billion, 38 percent more than last year, and has an operating income of $76 million.
The New Orleans Saints ranked 23rd out of 32 NFL franchises with an estimated value of $1.52 billion. Despite a family feud over succession of the team, the current valuation is 36 percent higher than a year ago. The magazine says the team had $322 million in revenue and $70 million in operating income last year.
When Tom Benson bought the Saints in 1985, he paid $70 million.
The Saints ranked 23 in Forbes’ 2014 valuation.
The NFL’s 32 franchises range in value from the Dallas Cowboys, now regarded as the most valuable sports franchise in the world, at $4 billion to the Buffalo Bills at $1.4 billion. It is the first time each team has been valued at more than $1 billion.
With $620 million in revenue and $270 million in operating income, the Cowboys experienced a 25 percent increase in value compared to 2014.
The top five valued NFL franchises – Dallas ($4 B), New England ($3.2 B), Washington ($2.85), New York Giants ($2.8 B) and San Francisco ($2.7 B) – are all large market teams with some of the newest stadiums and marketing opportunities in the league.
The 49ers value increased 69 percent compared to 2014, the largest jump in value in the league. The team opened play in the $1.2 billion Levi’s Stadium last year.
Even flirting with a big market and new stadium caused the St Louis Rams value to increase 56 percent in a year to $1.45 billion. It is expected that after this season the Rams will move back to Los Angeles, the country’s second largest media market, further increasing the league’s opportunity for growth and profit.
Forbes 2015 NFL Valuations
Forbes’ 18th annual listing of the most valuable teams in the National Football League was released this week. The average NFL team is worth $1.97 billion, 38 percent more than last year.
|
Rank |
Team |
Value |
1-Yr Value Change |
Debt/Value |
Revenue |
Operating Income |
Rank |
|
1 |
Dallas Cowboys |
$4 B |
25% |
5% |
$620 M |
$270 M |
1 |
|
2 |
New England Patriots |
$3.2 B |
23% |
7% |
$494 M |
$195 M |
2 |
|
3 |
Washington Redskins |
$2.85 B |
19% |
8% |
$439 M |
$124.9 M |
3 |
|
4 |
New York Giants |
$2.8 B |
33% |
18% |
$400 M |
$105.2 M |
4 |
|
5 |
San Francisco |
$2.7 B |
69% |
21% |
$427 M |
$123.7 M |
5 |
|
6 |
New York Jets |
$2.6 B |
44% |
23% |
$383 M |
$118.4 M |
6 |
|
7 |
Houston Texans |
$2.5 B |
35% |
7% |
$383 M |
$114.6 M |
7 |
|
8 |
Chicago Bears |
$2.45 B |
44% |
4% |
$352 M |
$85.7 M |
8 |
|
9 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
$2.4 B |
37% |
8% |
$370 M |
$88.7 M |
9 |
|
10 |
Green Bay Packers |
$1.95 B |
42% |
6% |
$347 M |
$63.3 M |
10 |
|
11 |
Denver Broncos |
$1.94 B |
34% |
6% |
$346 M |
$65.8 M |
11 |
|
12 |
Baltimore Ravens |
$1.93 B |
29% |
14% |
$345 M |
$59.8 M |
12 |
|
13 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
$1.9 B |
41% |
11% |
$334 M |
$54 M |
13 |
|
14 |
Indianapolis Colts |
$1.88 B |
34% |
3% |
$321 M |
$90.1 M |
14 |
|
15 |
Seattle Seahawks |
$1.87 B |
41% |
6% |
$334 M |
$43.6 M |
15 |
|
16 |
Miami Dolphins |
$1.85 B |
42% |
19% |
$322 M |
$41.5 M |
16 |
|
17 |
Atlanta Falcons |
$1.67 B |
48% |
51% |
$303 M |
$25.4 M |
17 |
|
18 |
Minnesota Vikings |
$1.59 B |
38% |
31% |
$281 M |
$34.5 M |
18 |
|
19 |
Carolina Panthers |
$1.56 B |
25% |
4% |
$325 M |
$77.8 M |
19 |
|
20 |
Arizona Cardinals |
$1.54 B |
54% |
10% |
$308 M |
$57.2 M |
20 |
|
21 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
$1.53 B |
39% |
5% |
$307 M |
$48.6 M |
21 |
|
22 |
San Diego Chargers |
$1.53 B |
53% |
7% |
$304 M |
$64.8 M |
22 |
|
23 |
New Orleans Saints |
$1.52 B |
36% |
5% |
$322 M |
$70 M |
23 |
|
24 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
$1.51 B |
23% |
12% |
$313 M |
$55.2 M |
24 |
|
25 |
Cleveland Browns |
$1.5 B |
34% |
13% |
$313 M |
$34.7 M |
25 |
|
26 |
Tennessee Titans |
$1.49 B |
28% |
10% |
$318 M |
$50.5 M |
26 |
|
27 |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
$1.48 B |
53% |
7% |
$315 M |
$67 M |
27 |
|
28 |
St Louis Rams |
$1.45 B |
56% |
8% |
$290 M |
$34 M |
28 |
|
29 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
$1.45 B |
46% |
7% |
$296 M |
$55.5 M |
29 |
|
30 |
Detroit Lions |
$1.44 B |
50% |
19% |
$298 M |
$36.1 M |
30 |
|
31 |
Oakland Raiders |
$1.43 B |
47% |
14% |
$285 M |
$39 M |
31 |
