The Dallas Cowboys are the world's most valuable sports franchise, according to a
Forbes annual survey of valuations for professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer teams, and for Formula 1 racing and NASCAR.
Despite not reaching the Super Bowl for the past two decades, the Cowboys topped all other sports teams with a value of $4 billion, noted Frobes, an increase of 25 percent. It was the first time a non-soccer team has topped the Forbes list since 2011, the initial year for the survey.
"The Cowboys are the poster child for the NFL's ability to make bank, with a sports-team record $270 million in operating profit during the 2014 season, $75 million more than any other franchise," said Forbes' writer Kurt Badenhausen.
"Rich broadcast deals help raise the value of all NFL teams, but owner Jerry Jones separates the Cowboys from the pack by controlling and maximizing the revenue streams from his $1.2 billion home, AT&T Stadium. … The Cowboys are also the only team to opt out of the NFL's licensed merchandise arrangement, which further swells Jones’ coffers."
The Cowboys' home attendance average of 91,459 at AT&T Stadium over eight games topped the NFL this past season, some 12,000 fans more than the New York Giants, which drew an average 79,001 fans at MetLife Stadium, according to
ESPN.
The Cowboys' valuation beat out Manchester United, which held the most valuable franchise title in 2011 and 2012, and Real Madrid, which topped the list for the past three years, noted Forbes.
"The value of an NFL franchise has been ridiculously skyrocketing since 2013," said John Breech, a writer with
CBS Sports. "Two years ago, there was only one team worth over $2 billion – the Cowboys. This year, there are nine teams worth over $2 billion and another four teams on the cusp, with values between $1.9 billion and $1.99 billion."
Real Madrid, which captured its 11th European league soccer title in May, was No. 2 on the Forbes list with a value of $3.65 billion, while FC Barcelona, with five-time FIFA player of the year Lionel Messi, ranked No. 3 at $3.55 billion.
The New York Yankees topped all Major League baseball teams, ranking No. 4 overall with a value of $3.4 billion, followed by Manchester United at $3.32 billion, noted Forbes.
Forbes said NFL teams flexed their muscles on the survey, filling 27 of the top 50 spots. The New England Patriots were in the No. 6 spot ($3.2 billion).
Major League baseball had seven teams in the ranking, the NBA eight teams, and European soccer eight teams. No Formula 1, NASCAR or hockey teams made Forbes top 50 list.
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