The top ten most valuable sports teams in the world right now
America’s major sporting leagues dominate Forbes latest list of the most valuable sports teams in the world.
Every one of the sports teams that cracked the top ten are sporting brands in their own right and prospective owners can expect to fork out $4 billion or more to pry them away from their current owners.
The ten most valuable sports teams
Three European football teams make the top ten with Manchester United joining Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona among the most valuable sports teams in the world, though it seems unlikely the Glazers would sell the club any time soon.
Despite the global economic slowdown there is apparently still high demand for sports teams and a handful of billionaires out there keen on getting hold of their own franchise.
“There is no lack of multi-billionaires that want to get into the sports business right now,” says Sal Galatioto, whose investment firm has handled team transactions for MLB baseball outfit the Chicago Cubs as well as NBA teams the Golden State Warriors and the Philadelphia 76ers among other marquee sports properties.
“People will pay a premium. They buy these teams not just on the numbers, but on the brand value.”
Forbes
Forbes’ top ten most valuable sports teams
10 Manchester United (English Premier League)
Current Value: $3.81 billion
Owner: Glazer family
Year Purchased: 2005
Price Paid: $1.4 billion
9 New York Giants (National Football League)
Current Value: $3.9 billion
Owner: John Mara, Steven Tisch
Year Purchased: 1925, 1991
Price Paid: $500, $150 million
8 Barcelona (La Liga)
Current Value: $4.02 billion
Owner: club members
Year Purchased: not applicable
7 New England Patriots (National Football League)
Value: $4.1 billion
Owner: Robert Kraft
Year Purchased: 1994
Price Paid: $172 million
6 Real Madrid (La Liga)
Current Value: $4.24 billion
Owner: club members
Year Purchased: not applicable
5 Golden State Warriors (NBA)
Current Value: $4.3 billion
Owner: Joe Lacob, Peter Guber
Year Purchased: 2010
Price Paid: $450 million
4 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
Current Value: $4.4 billion
Owner: Jerry Buss Family Trusts, Philip Anschutz
Year Purchased: 1979, 1998
Price Paid: $20 million, $268 million
3 New York Knicks (NBA)
Current Value: $4.6 billion
Owner: Madison Square Garden Company
Year Purchased: 1997
Price Paid: $300 million
2 New York Yankees (MLB)
Current Value: $5 billion
Owner: Steinbrenner family
Year Purchased: 1973
Price Paid: $8.8 million
1 Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
Current Value: $5.5 billion
Owner: Jerry Jones
Year Purchased: 1989
Price Paid: $150 million
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