Forbes 2009 Most Valuable Sports Franchises

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Forbes magazine has released its 2009 list of the world’s most valuable sports franchises with the top 10 populated with six National Football League franchises, three European soccer powers and the kings of Major League Baseball.

Manchester United, easily the most dominant European franchise, heads the top 10 with an estimated value of $1.8 billion. Malcolm Glazer owns a controlling stake in the soccer powerhouse in addition to owning the NFLs Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Leading the list of NFL teams are the Dallas Cowboys with an estimated worth of $1.6 billion.

Dallas is tops among a list of 19 NFL franchises that have an estimated value of at least $1 billion.

The Cowboys supplanted the Washington Redskins last year thanks to the new stadium Dallas will begin playing in this season.

The new facility in Arlington increased Dallas’ estimated worth by 28 percent, adding $350 million to the Cowboys overall value. The Redskins were the first NFL franchise to break the billion dollar mark in 2004 and remained the most valuable among all NFL teams until 2007.

The Dallas Cowboys are tops among NFL teams

Despite the Cowboys’ jump, Washington still comes in at No. 3 on the list with an estimated value of $1.5 billion.

The NFLs New England Patriots are No. 4 on the list with an estimated value of $1.32 billion. The Patriots total worth went virtually unchanged from their 2008 estimated value.

Rounding out the top 5 are the New York Yankees, the only Major League Baseball franchise among the top 10 and the only MLB club to be valued at $1 billion or more.

The Yankees, thanks to the new stadium they will begin playing in this season, saw their worth jump to an estimated $1.3 billion.

Forbes noted the list includes 28 franchises worth at least $1 billion or more. In 2003, no pro sports team in the world was worth a billion dollars.

The New York Yankees are the only MLB club to make the list

Behind the strength of their television contracts and newer, revenue-producing stadiums, today’s NFL is collectively worth $33.3 billion, up from $11.6 billion a decade ago.

The most valuable NBA franchise, the New York Knicks, checks in at $613 million. In the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs lead the valuation standings at just over $400 million.

Major League Baseball’s 30 clubs are worth a collective $14.1 billion, up from $6.6 billion in 1999. Growth rates are similar in the NBA, to $11.4 billion from $5.3 billion, and in the television-challenged NHL, to $6.6 billion from $3.6 billion.

Forbes Top 10 Most Valuable Sports Franchises

(Values in Billions)

1. Manchester United $1.8
2. Dallas Cowboys $1.6
3. Washington Redskins $1.5
4. New England Patriots $1.32
5. New York Yankees $1.3
6. Real Madrid $1.29
7. Arsenal $1.2
8. New York Giants $1.18
9. New York Jets $1.17
10. Houston Texans $1.17