No matter how many Americans struggle to make ends meet, to pay their mortgages or to simply get by, one thing never changes; they love their baseball. This is probably why in the past year, the MLB has noticed an increase in the value of each franchise. Baseball team values have increased 9 percent since 2013, with the average team worth more than $800 million. Read on to find out which 10 franchises are the most valuable in baseball today.
Photo Credit: CBS Sports
Los Angeles Angels $775 Million
Last season marks the 11th year that the Angels have had more than 3 million fans in attendance during the season. It’s an impressive number that puts them at the top of the list for the biggest fan base around. The Angels revenue in 2013 was more than $250 million and operating income was almost $6 million. They also have one of the highest payrolls in baseball with stars Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton, and Albert Pujols on the roster.
New York Mets $800 Million
For the fifth year in a row, the Mets have not had a great season. Their record is less than .500 and their team hasn’t made it into the postseason in 8 years. It was 2006 the last time the Mets made it into the postseason, and it seems fans are showing their displeasure with the team’s continuously dismal performance. There are fewer fans in the audience each year. They seem to be picking it up this season but we’re barely a 1/3 through.
Photo Source: Forbes
St. Louis Cardinals $820 Million
In 2013, the Cardinals saw more than 3.3 million fans sit in their ballpark to watch games. This is the second most in the history of the MLB. The Cardinals will likely make their way higher up this list as the years pass thanks to the fact that this is the 9th year in a row the team’s fan base at games was more than 3 million per season. Their loyal fanbase will continue to draw big dollars.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
Texas Rangers $825 Million
The Rangers income and worth increased significantly last year. Their excellent play has lead to an increase in sponsored deals. The Rangers income increase is due to the fact that the team signed at 10-year deal with Global Life and Accident Insurance for naming rights of their stadium. The deal is rumored to be as much as $50 million. As long as they keep performing at a high level, money will come in.
Philadelphia Phillies $975 Million
In 2016, the Phillies will begin their new long-term television agreement with Comcast SportsNet Philly. The deal was finalized in January and is expected to be worth a staggering $5 billion. It’s a significant pay increase over the team’s current television agreement with the NBC affiliates in Philly. This is part of the reason the Phillies are among the top 10 most valuable franchises in the MLB, and it appears they will continue to rise on the list as this agreement takes effect.
San Francisco Giants $1 Billion
The 2013 season was the Giants worst season in 6 years. The team had a losing record for the season with only 76 wins and 86 losses. However, that did not stop the fans from showing up in record numbers. Numbers so big, in fact, that the Giants have the 3rd highest attendance rating in the league last season with 3.36 million fans showing up to games during the season. Now the Giants are back on top as one of the best teams in baseball.
Photo Credit: Forbes
Chicago Cubs $1.2 Billion
Rumor has it that the Cubs are going to be worth a lot more than $1.2 billion in the next season or two. It’s been reported that the Cubs are in negotiations with Fox about a second regional sports network in the city of Chicago that could mean a big payday for the team, and an increase in sports base and revenue for the Cubs. They just need to pick it up in the skills department!
Boston Red Sox $1.5 Billion
After winning their 3rd World Series championship since 2004 during the 2013 baseball season, the Boston Red Sox became a lot more valuable. Fans like a winning team, and Bostonians are diehard baseball fans. The team has seen a 14 percent increase in local television ratings and in revenue since they began winning World Series’ like clockwork.
Los Angeles Dodgers – $2 Billion
In January 2014, the Dodgers signed one of the biggest, most profitable deals in MLB history. The team signed on with Time Warner Cable for a 25-year television deal that cost more than $8 billion. $1.9 billion of those dollars goes straight to the league’s revenue sharing system, which means that the Dodgers rose significantly on the list of most valuable franchises in the MLB.
Photo Credit: Forbes
New York Yankees $2.5 Billion
In 2013, the Yankees’ revenue was more than $461 million. The team leads the pack as the most valuable franchise in the MLB today. Fans of the Yankees are diehard, which means they are going to continue to pay rising ticket costs whether they sit as far from the field as possible or they own a luxury box.
Photo Credit: CBS
