**The Big Game of Profits: Sports Franchises Are Scoring Billions!**
In the world of sports, not only do teams compete for trophies, but they’re also racing to the top of the financial scoreboard. A recent report from Forbes reveals that the value of sports franchises in North America has skyrocketed since 2000, and the numbers are jaw-dropping. Two and a half decades ago, franchise values looked pretty modest. The NHL teams averaged around $148 million, while NBA teams were only worth about $27 million. Even the beloved NFL, America’s favorite sport, had an average valuation of $423 million. Fast forward to today, and every single franchise in the Big Four leagues—NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB—is now valued at a whopping minimum of $1.05 billion! That’s a combined total of $536 billion, which is more money than one can shake a foam finger at.
But it’s not all just inflation doing the heavy lifting here. The enormous increases in team values are mostly about real gains made by sports franchises. You see, for the past 25 years, the sports industry has been on a financial roll, growing consistently—even through tough economic times. The average franchise is now worth more than $2.2 billion, and the NFL, with its gridiron glamour, takes the crown with an average team valuation of $7.1 billion. So, which teams are leading this financial frenzy? Let’s take a closer look!
Leading the charge are the Dallas Cowboys, who have gone from a relatively humble $713 million in 2000 to an astounding $13 billion in 2025! That’s a jaw-dropping gain of $12.3 billion. Following closely behind are the Golden State Warriors, who have gained $10.8 billion, and the Los Angeles Rams, who have seen an increase of $10.1 billion. The New York Giants and LA Lakers aren’t far behind either, each clocking in gains just shy of $10 billion. Impressively, out of the top 25 franchises with the highest dollar growth, a whopping 18 are in the NFL. Clearly, the football frenzy is paying off!
When it comes to percentage appreciation, the Golden State Warriors steal the limelight once again. They skyrocketed from a mere $168 million to $11 billion, a staggering growth of 6,448%. Other teams that have seen significant gains include the Los Angeles Clippers and the Edmonton Oilers. Every single team in the top 25 has appreciated by no less than 2,264%. Even the least performing franchise over the last 25 years has soared by at least 285%. Talk about hitting a home run!
A big reason for this meteoric rise in franchise value can be credited to the lucrative national media rights deals. The NFL’s recent agreements guarantee teams around $392 million each in 2024, bolstering their revenue tremendously. This means professional football teams benefit from a greater share of league distributions than ever before. In fact, last season, about 67% of their total revenue came from these league-wide earnings. Other leagues like the NBA are getting in on the action too, with teams raking in an estimated $120 million just from national broadcasts last season.
While revenue at the franchise level has increased substantially, the valuation multiples have soared even higher—going from an average of 2.9 times revenue in 2000 to 10 times today’s revenue. NBA teams have practically taken it to another level with an average hitting an eye-popping 12.9 times revenue. This surge in interest and investment in sports franchises is making it an excellent time for owners who purchased their teams a generation ago. Investors taking a chance on sports have not only kept their cheerleaders dancing but also their bank accounts booming!
As the financial game continues to evolve, it’s clear: sports franchises are more than just teams; they are now mega-businesses raking in billions. So whether you’re a fan cheering from the stands or an owner counting cash in the luxury box, it’s a great time to be involved in the world of sports. And don’t worry, for anyone wanting more details on these stunning stats, they can easily check out Forbes for the full breakdown. Game on!
