Forbes released its annual list of the 50 most valuable sports franchises for 2017, and despite the NFL’s slipping TV ratings for the 2nd straight year, the Dallas Cowboys are #1 (valued at $4.2 Billion). Sports franchises are more valuable than ever, with the cutoff to qualify for the Top 50 up 18% this year, to $1.75 Billion and a total of 87 teams world-wide with a valuation exceeding $1 Billion. The highest ranked team you can buy on a U.S. exchange is Manchester United (MANU), ranked 3rd and up 11% over the last year ($3.69 Billion).
The Cowboys And Yankees Top The World’s Most Valuable Sports Teams Of 2017
Adam Dow-Jones: How do these values change as the mediums through which we watch them evolve? Can new media fill the gap, and even bid up the TV Contracts? Or do the broadcasters cry uncle and we stop seeing nutty deals for Thursday Night Jags-Titans matchups?
Fan Marino says: The players are rich. The owners are richer. Fun Fact: In 1998, John Elway passed on the opportunity to purchase 10% of the Denver Broncos for $15 Million. The franchise is worth $2.4 Billion today.