Which are the most valuable MLB teams? And how much are they actually worth?
As of 2014 according to Forbes, Major League Baseball franchise is estimated to value 295 million U.S. dollars on average. While in 2017, the total revenue generated from the league stood at 9.46 billion U.S. dollars, with an average of 315.33 million U.S. dollars per team. Over the past years, the Valuation of the MLB franchises has increased exponentially
Data released from Forbes in 2018 edition of MLB team valuations, estimated an average franchise value at 1.65 billion U.S. dollars. The least valuable franchise were the Miami Marlins with a value of 980 million U.S. dollars. While on the other hand, New York Yankees have the most valuable franchise with a value of 5 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.
Recall that we also talked about the Top-20 Richest Baseball Players In The World 2020
Table of Contents
Ranking The Ten Most Valuable MLB Teams
10. Washington Nationals
Value: $1.9 Billion
Last year, the baseball world was dazed that the National clinched their first World Series after losing free agent Bryce Harper to the Phillies. Their major sponsors are PNC Financial, Geico, Coca-Cola, MillerCoors, ExxonMobil. The revenue generated from hosting their eight home playoff games definitely did offset the 11% dip during the regular season. Keeping them at number 10 on the list of most valuable MLB teams.
9. Los Angeles Angels
Value: $1.975 Billion
The Angels signed the former Rays and Cubs manager Joe Maddon to lead the 2020 season. They also signed baseman Anthony Rendon to a seven-year, $245 million contract.
Around December, the Anaheim City Council confirm the purchase and sale agreement of Angel Stadium and 153 acres of surrounding land. The deal invite the city to sell the stadium and the land to SRB Management Co. LLC.
The land sale is worth $325 million and the concord binds the Angels to Anaheim until 2050. It enables the Angels to use the property to potentially build a new team-funded stadium. Their major sponsors are Chevrolet, Kaiser Permanente, PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch InBev, McDonald’s, Pechanga Resort.
8. Philadelphia Phillies
Value: $2 Billion
After signing a 13-year contract with Bryce Harper in 2019 for a deal of $330 million, the Phillies have only managed to post a .500 record. The baseball jersey of Harper’s has been the second bestselling behind Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.
While attendance at Citizens Bank Park has increased from 23%, to an average of 33,671 a game. Although, the Phillies have not made the postseason since 2011. Their two big free agent signings prior to the 2020 season; Zack Wheeler consenting to a Five year deal worth $118 million, and Didi Gregorius signed a one year deal worth $14 million.
Their major sponsors are Southwest Airlines, Modell’s Sporting, Goods, W.B. Mason, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Toyota Motor, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Comcast and Citizens Bank.
7. St. Louis Cardinals
Value: $2.2 Billion
Currently, St. Louis is the best baseball town in America. The Cardinals, play in one of MLB’s smallest markets, and still operates a big market franchise. The Cardinals team have always been among the top third of the league in payroll and a regular participant in the post season.
In 2019, the Cardinals rounded off as second in attendance with an average of 42,967 at Busch Stadium. They also have the highest baseball local television rating, averaging 6.59 on FS Midwest. Their major sponsors are the United States Cellular, Coca-Cola, Bank of America.
6. New York Mets
Value: $2.4 Billion
When Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz decided to sell the Mets, The deal with Steve Cohen was valued at $2.6 billion. This was going to enable him to gain control of the team in five years. Although, the deal fell through in February due to disagreement between the team’s owners and hedge fund billionaire.
The billionaire owners were dissatisfied about the level of input Cohen would posses, until he became controlling owner. Owners of the Mets also posses 65% share of SportsNet New York, the RSN that televises the team’s games.
In 2019, the SNY generated about $140 million in EBITDA, recording a small decrease from 2018 and it is also expected to decrease further more in 2020. The Mets have major sponsors such as Delta Air Lines, PepsiCo, Geico, Verizon, Communications, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Xerox, Citigroup.
5. San Fransisco Giants
Value: $3.1 Billion
Last year, the Giants marked their 20-year anniversary of Oracle Park with 2.7 million fans which was the fewest in the stadium’s history. This is as a result of ending the season with a three straight loss. Although, the Giants has won three World Series titles in five years.
Greg Johnson, the son of Charles Johnson the club’s largest shareholder was appointed as the new point person in November. Before 2019 season Kickstarted, the Giants earlier had agreed on a 10-year, omnichannel retail partnership with Fanatics where the sports merchandise and licensing firm operates the team’s flagship store.
4. Chicago Cubs
Value: $3.2 Billion
The Chicago Cubs for the first time last season missed their post season in five years. The Cubs fired their manager Joe Maddon last season, who has been in charge since 2015. The memories of Maddon can not be disregarded easily, as he guides the Cubs to their first World Series win in 2016, since their first title in 1908.
Chicago Cubs were among the three teams, with the Red Sox and Yankees, to surpass $206 million luxury tax threshold in 2019. Although, the Cubs were hit with the $7.6 million tax bill.
The Cubs’ launched new regional sports network, Marquee Sports Network, in conjunction with Sinclair Broadcast Group. Chicago Cubs have major sponsors like; Wrigley’s, Anheuser-Busch, Under Armour, State Farm, MasterCard, PepsiCo, Nuveen Investments.
3. Boston Red Sox
Value: $3.3 Billion
During the off-season, Red Sox majority owner John Henry opened up his wallet and signed free agent star outfielder Carl Crawford for $142 million, 7-year deal. He also traded for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez who reportedly has a 7-year, $154 million deal that is waiting to be signed.
Last spring The New York Times Company, which at the time owned 17.8% of Red Sox parent New England Sports Ventures, sold 1.2% of NESV to venture capitalist Henry McCance for $14 million. That deal placed an implied valuation on NESV of $1.2 billion. NESV also owns 80% of the New England Sports Network and 50% of Roush Fenway Racing (a NASCAR racing team). The Red Sox have major sponsors like; Bank of America, Anheuser-Busch, W.B. Mason, EMC, Coca-Cola, JetBlue Airways.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Value: $3.4 Billion
The Dodgers recorded the highest single-season franchise attendance in 2019, recording a total of 3,974,309, with approximately 49,066 per game and this includes 28 sellouts. This attendance level led MLB to it’s seventh straight year and delineated the 10th largest single-season mark in Major League history.
Although, the Dodgers added two new investors by the name Robert Plummer and Alan Smolinisky last year. This deal is said to valued the team and stadium at $3.2 billion.
The Dodgers made a megahit, trio-trade ahead of the 2020 season. The Dodgers acquired from the Red Sox; Mookie Betts, David Price and added with a cash payment in exchange for Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Connor Wong from the Dodgers. They also acquire from the Twins; Brusdar Graterol, Luke Raley, and a 2020 Competitive Round B draft, in exchange for Kenta Maeda, Jair Camargo, and immediate cash.
1. New York Yankees
Value: $5 Billion
The Yankee Global Enterprises is well a known three-engine money-making machine. The Yankees are the top investors, and that includes the Amazon and Sinclair Broadcast Group that acquired 80% of the YES Network from Walt Disney in August 2019. The enterprise deal was valued at $3.47 billion. Before the deal was reached, the Yankees owned just 20% of the regional sports network.
The Yankees launched YES, which is the most-watched regional sports. Last summer, Disney consented to trading off 21st Century Fox’s 22 regional sports networks to insure the Justice Department approval of its acquisition of major 21st Century Fox assets. Their baseball team begat a revenue of about $325 million from regular-season tickets and luxury suites in 2010.
The Yankees also own a portion in Legends Hospitality Management, which manages stadiums. They generates about $25 million as their operating income. They have major sponsors like PepsiCo, Canon, Delta Air Lines, MasterCard, Bank of America and W.B. Mason.
Uncertain Times In The MLB
There it is, the 10 most valuable MLB teams right now. Though a 2020 MLB’s financial structure will be used to determine the team that emerges from this current pandemic strong. Although, smaller market teams will rely heavily on ticket sales and game day’s for their revenues.
This is the slowest method to return to financial stability immediately after this stay at home policy ends. This is because, the game is suppose to carry a lot of crowd and due to the slow recovery from the pandemic, the ability to gather in public may loom into 2021.