The Most Valuable Sports Franchises in the US, Ranked main image
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The Most Valuable Sports Franchises in the US, Ranked

The world of American sports is a billion-dollar industry. Sometimes, people flock from all over the world to a certain place to show their pride in a sports team -- even if the sport isn't played in their home nation! That just goes to show how much money is poured into this industry shows just how significant sports teams are to American culture.

From football to basketball, sports teams in America tend to bring everyone together. What's a game without a tailgater beforehand? You get to eat some good food and you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for a single hotdog. Heck, showing support for their state’s team is even more important than voting for many people – for better or worse.

Forbes magazine took a look at all the major sports teams - in soccer, American football, baseball, and basketball - and ranked them based on market value. Over the years, the value of these teams has obviously changed, but what do they look like today? From New York to LA, these sports teams are the most valuable in the industry.

Did your favorite team make the cut? Let’s take a look at the most valuable sports franchises in the US, ranked from least to most valuable.

 

30. Indianapolis Colts

30. Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are an American football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are part of the National Football League, and since 2008, they have been playing at the Lucas Oil Stadium. Originally, the team was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1953 but they were relocated to Indianapolis 30 years later.

The Indianapolis Colts are worth $2.850 Billion. The team has participated in three NFL championships and two Super Bowl championships. Notable players over the years have included Peyton Manning, Marshall Faulk, Joe Perry, Lenny Moore, John Mackey, Ted Hendricks and Eric Dickerson – all Pro Football Hall of Famers.

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29. Atlanta Falcons

29. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team that competes in the National Football League and are based in the city of Atlanta, Georgia. They joined the NFL in 1965, and like the Vikings, were an expansion team. The owner at the time was Rankin Smith. In their 55 years playing, they have garnered a win record of 379–487–6.

The Atlanta Falcons are worth a total of $2.88 Billion and that number has risen 72% from the previous five years. In the team's history, there have been a number of notable players such as Tommy McDonald, Eric Dickerson, Deion Sanders, Chris Doleman and Claude Humphrey. The team currently plays at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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28. Miami Dolphins

28. Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are an American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The professional team competes in the National Football League. The Dolphins are the oldest team in the state of Florida, having been founded in 1965 by attorney-politician Joe Robbie, and actor-comedian Danny Thomas. They won the Super Bowl twice.

The Miami Dolphins are worth $2.9 Billion, up 57% from the previous five years. The team can be found playing at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The team uniforms are a recognizable aqua blue, orange, white and marine blue. The current owner and chairman for the team is Stephen M. Ross. Notable players have included Dan Marino, Jim Langer and Jason Taylor.

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27. Minnesota Vikings

27. Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American Football team that also competes in the American Football League. The team was founded in 1960 as an expansion team. The Vikings have an all-time overall record of 516–442–11. Notable players have included Warren Moon, John Randle, Steve Hutchinson and Dave Casper, among others.

The team was named after the Vikings of ancient Scandinavia. The team mascot pays homage to the prominent Scandinavian American culture of Minnesota. Currently, the team is worth $2.95 Billion, however, this is 86% more than what it was worth the previous five years.

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26. Baltimore Ravens

26. Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens of Maryland are a professional American football team, headquartered in the city of Owning Mills, that competes in the NFL. Most of their games are played at M&T Bank Stadium. The team was established in 1996 by the owner of the Cleveland Browns. The team is worth a total of $2.98 Billion, which is 54% more than five years ago.

The team’s name obviously pays homage to Edgar Allan Poe, author of the famous poem the Raven. Edgar Allan Poe was found dead in the streets of Baltimore and buried there. Notable players of the Ravens football team have included Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden and Rod Woodson.

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25. Pittsburgh Steelers

25. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers Are a professional NFL team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They were founded back in 1933, nearly 90 years ago. They are the seventh-oldest franchise in the NFL’s history and the oldest member of the American Football Conference. Currently, they are headquartered at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

So how much are the Steelers worth? According to Forbes, they are worth an estimated $3 Billion, up 58% from the previous five years. Over the years, the Steelers have played the Super Bowl eight times and won six of them. Two uniform numbers have been retired: number 70 and number 75 – which belonged to Ernie Stautner and Joe Greene.

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24. Green Bay Packers

24. Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers of Green Bay, Wisconsin, are a professional team that is the third-oldest in NFL history, formed back in 1919. It is the only non-profit, community-owned professional sports team in the United States. Since 1957, the team has been playing at Lambeau Field, where they are also headquartered.

The team was founded by Earl "Curly" Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun. Today, the team is valued at $3.05 Billion, up 56% from the previous five years. The team has won 13 league championships since that time and won the Super Bowl four times. All-Time Packer's leaders have included Brett Favre, Ahman Green, Donald Driver and Curly Lambeau.

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23. Seattle Seahawks

23. Seattle Seahawks

In Seattle, there’s nothing bigger than the Seahawks. The American professional football team, part of the NFL, entered as an expansion team in 1976 but was established in 1974. The Seattle, Washington-based team plays at Lumen Field and is headquartered at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

The Seahawks are worth $3.08, a number that has risen 64%. As mentioned, in Seattle, the Seahawks are a huge deal. Their fanbase known collectively as the 12th Man has set a Guinness World Record for being the noisiest fans at a sporting event. They don’t mess around to say the least. Notable players have included Steve Hutchinson, Warren Moon, Franco Harris and John Randle.

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22. Las Vegas Raiders

22. Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders are an American football team that was originally based in Oakland, California but are now based in Las Vegas. The team’s headquarters are in Henderson, Nevada at the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center. They are playing at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.

The team was founded in 1960 but in those early years, the team was off to a rough start due to poor performance and financial difficulties but that doesn’t seem to be a problem now. Today, the team is worth $3.1 Billion, up 117% from 2006. The Raiders have won three Super Bowl championships.

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21. San Francisco Giants

21. San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants are a professional baseball team based in San Francisco, established in 1958. However, the team started out as the New York Gothams and three years later named the New York Giants before they were moved in 1958. This highly successful team has won more games in professional American sports than any other team.

But, oh boy, was it a long road to get there. The team was a losing team for almost 50 years until 2001, when Barry Bonds competed against the Cardinals player Mark McGuire for the single home run record. Since that time, the team has won three World Series titles. In the Giants’ history, the team has retired 11 uniform numbers. The team is worth $3.18 Billion.

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20. Boston Celtics

20. Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are another $3.2 Billion team, up 52% from the last five years. This is the first basketball team to make the list. The Celtics are a professional basketball team that has been based in Boston since 1946. They play their games at the TD Garden arena. They are regarded as one of the most successful teams in NBA history, tied only with the Lakers for winning 17 NBA championships.

The Boston Celtics’ name, and mascot - Lucky the Leprechaun - pay homage to the Irish population of Boston. Uniforms for the team, always include some green of course! Hall of Famers of the Boston Celtics include the legendary Shaquille O’Neal and Bill Russel. Prior to moving their games to TD Garden, the played at Boston Arena and Boston Garden.

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19. Denver Broncos

19. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are worth an astounding $3.2 Billion, up 65% from the previous five years. They were founded back in 1959 in Colorado. Headquartered in Dove Valley, Colorado, the team plays at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. In the beginning, the team performed very poorly and only had their first season win in 1973.

All that changed when Pat Bowlen Trust purchased the team in 1984. At that time, he paid $78 Million. Shortly after, the team was well on its way to becoming a top performer. The team won seven AFC championships and three Super Bowls. Pat Bowlen Trust died in 2019 and was inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame. It’s truly amazing what a simple change in management can accomplish.

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18. Chicago Bulls

18. Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls, a basketball franchise well known for their star player Michael Jordan, is a member of the NBA in the Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded in 1966 and played its first game in the 1966 to 1967 season. Their greatest successes didn’t occur until the ‘90s, where they won six championships at the time. Their star players included Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippin.

The Chicago Bulls name is still one that carries a lot of weight, even without Michael Jordan. The franchise is valued at $3.3 Billion, which is a 43% change over the last five years. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, who purchased it in 1985. At the time he paid just $16.2 Million.

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17. Houston Texans

17. Houston Texans

They say that everything is bigger in Texas and certainly the Houston Texans are a pretty big deal. The Houston Texans are a $3.3 Billion team. Established in 1999, they are a fairly new addition to the NFL – in fact, the youngest NFL team out there. They didn’t play their first season until 2002.

The Texans play and are headquartered at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Because they are so new, they currently only have one Hall of Famer: Ed Reed. The current coach for the Texans is David Culley. He has been the coach for only a short time, however, since January 28th 2021.

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16. Chicago Cubs

16. Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are a renowned baseball team based in Chicago, of course. Competing in the MLB, the team plays their games at Wrigley Field. They are one of two MLB teams in Chicago – the other of which are the White Sox. The Cubs themselves were known as the White Stocking but that was back in 1876.

By 1903, the White Stocking became the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have played 11 World Series and won 116 games. Their franchise's all-time record is 1,016–10,430. The team was last purchased by the Ricketts Family in 2009 for $700 Million. The team is now worth $3.36 Billion, up 53% since 2016.

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15. Philadelphia Eagles

15. Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are another old American football team established back in 1933. They are Headquartered and play in the city of Philly. They play all their home games at Lincoln Financial Field. Since their formation, the NFL team has appeared in the playoffs 27 times and won 14 Division titles. They appeared at the Super Bowl three times and won once.

The Philadelphia Eagles are worth a total of $3.4 Billion, up 42% from 2019. Owner Jeffrey Lurie purchased the team back in 1994 for a total of $185 Million. At the 2017 Super Bowl, Lurie’s very own team had defeated the team that was his favorite growing up: the New England Patriots. Notable players from the Eagles include Reggie White, Jerome Brown and Steve Van Buren.

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14. Boston Red Sox

14. Boston Red Sox

In Boston, you probably know that the Red Sox are a pretty big deal, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the team is one of the most valuable franchises in the United States. The team is worth an estimated $3.47 Billion, a number that has changed 51% over the past five years. The Red Sox were last purchased in 2002 by John Henry and Tom Werner. They paid $380 Million.

The Boston Red Sox baseball team competes in the MLB and was founded back in 1901. The Red Sox have had the same home since 1912: Fenway Park. While the team was originally known as the Boston Red Stockings, it was changed to Red Sox in 1908 by John I. Taylor – the team’s owner. The team has won nine World Series championships and they have played 13.

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13. Washington Football Team

13. Washington Football Team

The Washington Football Team is an NFL competitor from the Washington metropolitan area. The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland and is headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia.  They were established back in 1932. Interestingly, it was the first NFL franchise to have an official marching band and a fight song. They have won three Super Bowls and two NFL championship games.

Founded as the Boston Braves the team’s name has changed twice and is set to change again. In 1933, the team became known as the Redskins, and they moved to Washington D.C. in 1937. The name was changed again, in 2020, due to controversy over the name which is an offensive term for Native Americans – and the logo removed as well – temporarily becoming the Washington Football team, before a permanent name is chosen. The team is now worth $3.5 Billion, having last been purchased by Daniel Snyder in 1999 for $750 Million.

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12. Chicago Bears

12. Chicago Bears

What’s the most valuable sports team in Chicago? Da- Bears! The Chicago Bears are worth $3.53 Billion, up 44% over the last five years. Owned by the McCaskey family since 1920, the team was purchased for just $100. Since then, the Bears have won nine NFL Championships, including one Super Bowl.

The franchise was founded in Decatur, Illinois in 1920 before it moved to Chicago in 1921. The team played home games at Wrigley Field until 1970 and now it plays them at Soldier Field. The team is headquartered at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois.

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11. New York Jets

11. New York Jets

The New York Jets are an American football team worth $3.55 Billion. Owned by the Johnson family and purchased in 2000, the family paid $635 Million at the time. The Jets compete in the NFL at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford in New Jersey. They are headquartered at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey.

The team was founded back in 1959 as the Titans of New York but only as an original member of the American Football League. They remained the Titans until 1963, when they became the Jets and in 1970, they joined the NFL. The team has retired five numbers and has 14 players in the Hall of Fame. The Jets have played at the Super Bowl once and won that time.

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10. Los Angeles Dodgers

10. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a 3.57 Billion-dollar franchise. Over the last five years, the team's value has changed 43%. The team is owned by Guggenheim Baseball Management, having been purchased in 2012 for $2 Billion. But the team wasn’t always in Los Angeles. The MLB team was established back in 1883 in Brooklyn. Then known as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, they went through several name changes before becoming the Dodgers in 1932.

After 68 seasons, the owner and manager, Walter O'Malley, moved the team to Los Angeles. Their success in LA was almost instant, as they went on to win the 1959 World Series. They have won a total of seven World Series championships and 24 National League pennants. One of their biggest rivals is another LA team: the Angels.

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9. San Francisco 49ers

9. San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are a team valued at $3.8 Billion. The five-year change in value has been 41%. The team has two owners: Denise DeBartolo York and John York, who paid $13 Million in 1977. The NFL team plays its home games at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, 38 miles from San Francisco. Their headquarters are at Marie P. DeBartolo Sports Center in Santa Clara.

The team was established back in 1944 and they played their first season in 1946. The team’s name pays tribute to the California gold miners during the Gold Rush of 1849. The uniform colors are red, white and gold. Since the team was established, the 49ers have won five Super Bowls.

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8. Los Angeles Rams

8. Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are an American football team established back in 1936 but then they were the Cleveland Rams based in Ohio. Homer Marshman was the first owner of the Rams. In 1946, the team moved to Los Angeles and played their first games there at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. They moved again in 1994 to St. Louis, Missouri and had a Super Bowl victory against the Titans.

After the 2015 season, the Rams moved back to Los Angeles. Today, they play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California and they are headquartered at Agoura Hills. So far, the Rams have won two NFL championships and one Super Bowl. The team is worth $4 Billion today, last purchased in 2010 for $750 Million by Stanley Kroenke. They have risen in value 176% over five years.

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7. New York Giants

7. New York Giants

The New York Giants are an American football team not to be confused with the former New York Giants baseball team. The team was first established in 1925 and joined the NFL that year. They are the only one out of five groups that still remain after joining that very same year. They currently play at MetLife Stadium at East Rutherford, New Jersey and are headquartered at Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

The New York Giants rank third out of all NFL franchises, valued at $4.3 Billion. The five-year change in value is 54%. The current owners are John Mara and Steven Tisch, purchased for $500 (yes, that’s no error) and $150 Million. The $500, of course, was worth a lot more back in 1925, but certainly not $150 Million.

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6. New England Patriots

6. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots are the second-most valuable American football team in the United States. Based in the greater Boston area, the Patriots compete in the NFL and play most of their games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where they are also headquartered. The team was established in 1959 and played its first season in 1960.

In 1959, the team was known as the Boston Patriots and was only a charter player for the American Football League. They didn’t join the NFL until 1970 and moved to Foxborough in 1971, when they changed their name to the New England Patriots. The team was last purchased in1994 by Robert Kraft for $172 Million and is now valued at $4.4 Billion.

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5. Los Angeles Lakers

5. Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have had some of the most renowned players in basketball history. They are one of the most successful NBA teams in history with 17 NBA championship wins – tied with the Celtics, as mentioned earlier. The team is based in Los Angeles and plays at the Staples Center. Their colors are purple, gold and black.

The team was established back in 1947 and from that time up until 1960, they were known as the Minneapolis Lakers before moving to LA. The team has multiple owners including the Jerry Buss Family Trusts, who are the majority shareholders, and Philip Anschutz. The Buss Family paid just $20 Million, while Philip Anschutz paid $268 Million. The team is now worth $4.6 Billion, which represents a 70% change in value over the last five years.

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4. Golden State Warriors

4. Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors of San Francisco are an NBA team originally founded in Philadelphia in 1946. They moved to the San Francisco Bay in 1962, becoming the San Francisco Warriors until 1971 when they changed the name to the Golden State Warriors. Their home games are played at Chase Center and their team colors are yellow and blue.

The Golden State Warriors are worth $4.7 Billion, a whopping 147% change in value over the last five years. The team is owned by Joe Lacob and Peter Gruber, whom purchased it for $450 Million in 2010. The team has six retired numbers, 19 players in the Hall of Fame and five coaches.

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3. New York Knicks

3. New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are the most valuable professional basketball team and the third-most valuable sports team in the United States. Located in New York City, the team plays at the Madison Square Garden arena. At $5 Billion, the value of the Knicks has risen 67% over the last five years and it’s like to go up from there.

The team was established in 1946 by Ned Irish. Very early on, the team was highly successful at games but began losing in the ‘50s. It wasn’t until the late 1960s that they would regain their former glory. They had their ups and downs but were last purchased in 1997 for $300 Million.

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2. New York Yankees

2. New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are the second-most valuable sports team in the United States and the most valuable team in MLB. They are valued at $5.25 Billion, which is a 54% change in the last five years. Since 1973, the team has been owned by the Steinbrenner family, which paid $8.8 Million.

The New York Yankees were established back in 1901 but were first known as the Baltimore Orioles until they were moved in 1903 to New York City – and there they became the New York Highlanders. They hadn't been named the Yankees until 1913. As the most successful sports team in United States history, they have won 19 American League East Division titles, 40 American League pennants and 27 World Series championships. On top of this, there are 44 players and 11 managers in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

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1. Dallas Cowboys

1. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable team in American sports and have remained for some years now. Currently, the Cowboys have a value of $5.7 Billion with a 57% change in value over the last five years. It was last purchased in 1989 by Jerry Jones, where he paid $150 Million. The team plays at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and is headquartered at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

The Dallas Cowboys were established in 1960, joining the NFL as an expansion team. The Cowboys has an impressive streak of 190 consecutive sold-out regular and post-season games that began back in 2002. They have played at the Super Bowl eight times and won five times. Super Bowl MVPs have included Emmitt Smith, Larry Brown and Chuck Howley.

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