The World’s 10 Most Valuable Sports Teams (With Arsenal in 7th?)

By: Daryl | January 19th, 2009

Forbes released its list of the world’s 10 most valuable sports “franchises” (in quotes because I’ve never liked that word) last week. It’s mostly American teams – six from NFL, plus the Yankees – but there are three European soccer teams in there too: Man Utd, Real Madrid and.. Arsenal?

Yep. Despite the fact that they can’t afford a decent defensive midfielder and waste money on Emmanuel Eboue’s wages, Arsenal are apparently the 7th most valuable sports team in the world.

Forbes Top 10 after the jump…



1. Man Utd (Prem) $1.8bn
2. Dallas Cowboys (NFL) $1.6bn
3. Washington Redskins (NFL) $1.5bn
4. New England Patriots (NFL) $1.32bn
5. New York Yankees (MLB) $1.3bn
6. Real Madrid (La Liga) $1.29bn
7. Arsenal (Prem) $1.2bn
8. New York Giants (NFL) $1.18bn
9. New York Jets (NFL) $1.17bn
10. Houston Texans (NFL) $1.17bn

My first reaction was to be happy to see three “proper football” teams on the list. Like it was a small victory in the neverending football vs football war.

But on second thoughts, this is just more evidence that the beautiful game – and especially the Premier League – is slowly but surely turning into the NFL. I’ll point to the Game 39 proposal as exhibit A.

Forbes aren’t 100% clear on how values have been calculated, but it seems to be all about television revenue, sponsorship, merchandising and big assets like stadiums. Basically, billionaire owners don’t enter into the equation because it’s not about spending power, it’s about earning power.

And if anyone’s surprised that Man Utd cam out on top… just take a look at this and all will become clear.

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Category: World Football

Tags: Arsenal, Dallas Cowboys, Forbes, Houston Texans, Man Utd, most valuable sports franchises, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, New York Yankees, Real Madrid, Washington Redskins, World Football

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Comments  

• matt |  January 19th, 2009 at 8:29 am

  
  
  

  the houston friggin texans? wow.

  Posted from United States

  

• Drabik |  January 19th, 2009 at 8:38 am

  
  
  

  I wonder what the worldwide popularity list would look like. Probably would see more football teams and less baseball / american football.

  Posted from United States

  

• LorenzoRosanero |  January 19th, 2009 at 8:43 am

  
  
  

  How in the world are the Houston Texans on this list? That just baffles me.

  Posted from United States

  

• Daryl |  January 19th, 2009 at 9:03 am

  
  
  

  According to the Forbes article, the Houston Texans have the NFL’s biggest stadium naming rights deal at $300m.

  Imagine if Man Utd auctioned the naming rights for Old Trafford?

  Posted from United States

  

• b |  January 19th, 2009 at 9:39 am

  
  
  

  plus the texans have a small payroll, while getting to share in all of the nfl’s TV and merchandising money.

  arsenal has a similarly responsible payroll, while being a globally recognized brand. huge worldwide sales of t-shirts and keychains, a big stadium that’s full every week…it all adds up.

  Posted from United States

  

• old apple |  January 19th, 2009 at 9:52 am

  
  
  

  gross

  Posted from United States

  

• Albo |  January 19th, 2009 at 10:44 am

  
  
  

  The funny thing is that the only team in the list to have won something last year is Man-U.
  The rest sucked in direct proportion to their wasted money.
  The sad thing is that many hungry people could have gotten help with all those wasted billions.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ronald |  January 19th, 2009 at 11:41 am

  
  
  

  Albo : Ummmmmm, New York Giants Won the Superbowl last year >_>

  Posted from United States

  

• LorenzoRosanero |  January 19th, 2009 at 11:42 am

  
  
  

  Albo – the Giants won the Super Bowl last year against the Patriots.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ronald |  January 19th, 2009 at 11:44 am

  
  
  

  ” Knock On wood ” lol.

  Also Real Madrid Won La Liga last year if im correct Albo.

  Posted from United States

  

• Albo |  January 19th, 2009 at 11:51 am

  
  
  

  Ummmmmmm, never mind
  Tell’em to keep spending then…

  Posted from United States

  

• Pseudinho |  January 19th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

  
  
  

  I’m surprised the Chicago Cubs didn’t make that list. With historic Wrigley Field, the majority of their games on national tv, and basically selling out every home game with 40K fans. 81 games of 40K fans. I also think the Chicago Bears could have been on that list and Barcelona. This would have been my list.

  1. Manchester United
  2. New York Yankees
  3. Dallas Cowboys
  4. Real Madrid
  5. Chicago Cubs
  6. Washington Redskins
  7. Barcelona
  8. Los Angeles Lakers
  9. New York Giants
  10. Chicago Bears

  Posted from United States

  

• Alex |  January 19th, 2009 at 1:41 pm

  
  
  

  houston texans???…6 of 10 are NFL teams???…and isnt “football” more popular than NFL football worldwide??? dam!

  Posted from United States

  

• martin |  January 19th, 2009 at 7:43 pm

  
  
  

  You can’t just make up your own list, what’s it based on?

  Posted from United States

  

• Johnny |  January 19th, 2009 at 8:03 pm

  
  
  

  Nice pic Daryl. lol

  However, I figure these owners are wiping with a substantially higher denomination.

  Posted from United States

  

• ish |  January 19th, 2009 at 8:08 pm

  
  
  

  nfl has way more money pumped in to it since it has way more advertising, sponsorship and is generally seen as a souless sport by many.
  If football in europe wanted to earn way more they would simply give naming rights to stadiums, have way more ad’s and generally destroy the heart of the game. Luckily many teams in the world, chelsea and barce are the ones i know but i think nearly the entire bundesliga as well, have supporter owned naming rights in that the stadium and naming rights are owned by the supporters.
  I think if they did a top 50 we would see a much higher representation of asocc. football clubs since many have high earnings but not super high, hell even chelsea who are still in the red have very high earnings but due to high player wages and huge debt they are in the red. Bayern is another with massive worth yet their ticket costs are cheaper then many relegation battling EPL teams(tottenham, cheap shot).

  Posted from United States

  

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