Real Madrid, Dallas Cowboys top Forbes sport value list

Real Madrid ranked as the world's most valuable sport team for the third consecutive year in the latest Forbes magazine global ranking, the Spanish side valued at $3.26 billion (3 billion euros).

The ranking puts two iconic American franchises, the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and Major League Baseball's New York Yankees, together deadlocked for second on the list of 50 revealed Friday at $3.2 billion.

Barcelona was fourth on $3.16 billion with Manchester United fifth on $3.1 billion.

In all, the list features 20 NFL teams, 12 baseball teams, 10 NBA clubs, seven football squads, Ferrari from Formula One at 32nd worth $1.35 billion and one National Hockey League team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, in 37th at $1.3 billion.

The list reached 51 because of a deadlock at 49th at $1.15 billion between the NBA Dallas Mavericks, NFL Minnesota Vikings and baseball's Atlanta Braves.

There were 62 sports teams worldwide valued by Forbes at $1 billion or more. The world's 50 most valuable sports teams are now worth $1.75 billion on average, up 31 percent from last year.

Real Madrid captured a record 10th Champions League crown last year and banked a worldwide-high $746 million in revenue, according to Forbes, while making $171 million in profits, aided by La Liga television contracts that allow clubs to make their own deals, adding the world's top broadcast revenue at $277 million to Real's coffers.

Relative euro value declines saw the overall franchise value dip five percent, however, even as it stayed on top.

The Yankees top 12 baseball teams on the list, twice as many as last year, bolstered by large jumps in TV rights fees.

The 27-time World Series winners moved up two spots and jumped 28 percent in value to match the Cowboys despite missing the playoffs last year for only the third time since 1994.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has the most profitable club in sports at $246 million with revenues 31 percent higher than their nearest NFL rival.

Not since the Washington Redskins in 2006 has an NFL team been valued above the Cowboys, whose naming rights deal for their home stadium is for 25 years at $500 million.

The NFL's reigning Super Bowl champion New England Patriots were ranked sixth alongside the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers at $2.6 billion with the NBA's New York Knicks eighth at $2.5 billion and the Redskins and baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers sharing ninth at $2.4 billion.
Source: AFP