NEWSLETTER
Although we tend to track individual team valuations relative to their own league, Forbes just put out their overall sports franchise valuations – like, for every franchise in the world. It’s an interesting read, particularly in advance of what we expect to be impacted valuations in the wake of the pandemic.
As for the clubs in Chicago, here’s how they shake out, with the Bears (and the NFL, in general) on top:
13. Chicago Bears – $3.45 billion (6th in the NFL, behind the Cowboys, Patriots, Giants, Rams, and 49ers)
17. (tie) Chicago Cubs – $3.2 billion (4th in MLB, behind the Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox)
17. (tie) Chicago Bulls – $3.2 billion (4th in the NBA, behind the Knicks, Lakers, and Warriors)
It’s wild when you think about the Bulls being worth as much as the Cubs, but such is the nature of the NBA and of the Bulls brand.
The White Sox ($1.65 billion as of this past spring, 14th in MLB) and Blackhawks ($1.085 billion as of this past winter, 4th in NHL) did not make the top 50 overall list.
We will soon enough have a pandemic data point, as the New York Mets are in the process of being sold, and Forbes seems to believe their valuation ($2.4 billion) likely has been impacted. Consider that, pre-pandemic, Steve Cohen had put together a deal to buy the Mets for $2.6 billion, and has since offered just $2 billion. Not that the Wilpons, or any other major sports franchise owner, is in the poorhouse specifically because of modest downtrends in valuations – don’t forget that franchise valuations have consistently increased about 10% annually over the past 30 years. They’ve been among the best investments out there. A bump in the road is something that happens eventually, even if you didn’t expect it would be a dang pandemic.
