Ever wondered what are the 10 most profitable sports franchises? Given the number of sports fans around the globe willing to support their favorite teams and athletes, regardless if it is from the NBA or the NHL, or even Formula 1, there are franchises that could generate billions of dollars annually. And so do you ever wonder where the million dollar contracts of athletes came from? These million dollar contracts came from team owners who know exactly the profitability of the sports they are involved in.
There are sports that are very lucrative for business. There are teams that could draw crowds and fill up the entire stadium every game. Aside from the ticket sales, another characteristic of 10 most profitable sports franchises involve the affinity towards the market leaders willing to pay sponsorship fees for the venue or for the team itself.
According to statistics, the NFL teams collectively generated a total revenue of $9.17 billion. This is already a huge chunk of money. However, if you will look at how soccer teams, not to mention iconic baseball teams perform, you’ll be surprised by just how bigger the money really is in sports. In fact, you can check this article about the top 10 most profitable franchises in 2014 and see for yourself the money involved in sports.
There are a lot of factors that makes sports business unique. Once you could draw a massive crowd through athletes, or through the intrigue that surrounds them, that’s when sponsors become excited to deal with the teams. Also, that is when ticket sales go off the roof. And of course, you also have money flowing in from merchandise. One great example of this is Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s. With the charisma of Michael Jordan along with Pippen, Rodman and the rest of the Bulls, they turned the franchise into a worldwide sensation. NBA finals were eagerly watched by a great number of audiences around the globe.
So how much money is flowing into teams in sports franchises like that of NBA teams or those that have a worldwide following such as soccer teams? These are the 10 most profitable sports franchises out there.
10. New York Giants ($1.55 billion)
Owned by John Mara and Steven Tisch, the team has been estimated to have a value of around $1.55 billion. What makes the team such a profitable franchise, it had 8 championships, not to mention winning the Super bowl both in 2007 and 2011.
9. Washington Redskins ($1.7 billion)
Washington Redskins makes it to number 9 in our list of 10 most profitable sports franchises. Under head coach Jay Gruden, Washington Red Skins has consistently filled the FedEx Field arena. Its roster includes Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins. The team has won the NFL championships in three different occasions twice in the 80s and once in the 1990s.
8. New England Patriots ($1.8 billion)
The New England Patriots is among the most dominant teams in the NFL today. Being able to win the NFL championships in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2014, it isn’t surprising how this team managed to generate $1.8 billion worth of revenue.
7. Bayern Munich ($1.85 billion)
Football is big in Europe. Commonly known as the FCB, this team has been founded in 1900. Bayern plays in front of a massive 75,000 crowd making it among the most popular German football clubs today.
6. Los Angeles Dodgers ($2 billion)
Major league baseball produces a huge amount of money in the US. As for the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning the World Series seven times since the 1950s makes them as one of the most profitable teams in the league. Filling up the Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers makes it in our list of 10 most profitable sports franchises.
5. Dallas Cowboys ($2.3 billion)
Popular for their cheerleaders, the Dallas Cowboys is a football team franchise in the East Division of the National Football Conference of the NFL. With head coach Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys remains as a favorite team in the league despite the absence of winning NFL championships since 1990s.
4. New York Yankees ($2.5 billion)
There is nothing surprising seeing the New York Yankees in our list. An iconic sports franchise that has become part of the American culture, New York Yankees reflect what Americans love about baseball. In fact, the team is so iconic that even those who don’t watch football easily recognizes the team.
3. Manchester United ($2.81 billion)
From Wayne Rooney to Ashley Young, Manchester United is among the most popular football teams in Football today. This is also the team where the charismatic David Beckham used to play in. Playing in the Premier League, this football team is among the biggest names in football worldwide.
2. FC Barcelona ($3.2 billion)
Another football club on our list is FC Barcelona. Playing in the Spanish league, this team is composed of players such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez to name a few. With wealth of $3.2 billion, it is undeniably among the wealthiest sports franchises in the world today.
1. Real Madrid ($3.44 billion)
The number one on our list is none other than Real Madrid. Christiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez and Karim Benzema are among the names that will most likely ring a bell even to those who don’t usually follow La Liga. Real Madrid generating $3.44 billion makes it to the number one of our top 10 most profitable sports franchises.
