The annual Forbes MLB valuations and business information report is out, and like the Sportico valuations the recently preceded it, the Chicago Cubs rate as the fourth most valuable franchise behind the Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox.
According to Forbes’ calculations, those four teams saw their value grow by 5% over the past 12 months despite the pandemic, the largest growth rates in baseball. The Cubs wind up at $3.36 billion, shy of the figure calculated by Sportico ($4.14 billion), but that latter figure included the owners’ interest in regional sports networks and surrounding properties. For the Cubs, that would include the Ricketts Family’s stake in Marquee and the many properties around Wrigley in which they have an interest. My guess is that the valuations for the organization and the ballpark are roughly equal between the two publications.
Which is to say, while the pandemic did hammer revenues league-wide – the Cubs were not immune – it did little if anything to curb the runaway growth in valuation. Consider that Forbes is indicating that the Cubs appreciated $160 million over the past 12 months, despite the pandemic losses. No, that’s not liquid cash that can be used to pay player salaries, for example, but it’s not a nothing consideration either. Forbes calculated the Cubs’ operating losses at $73 million last year.
Per Forbes, there are really four teams roughly in the Cubs’ valuation tier – the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Giants are all, like the Cubs, between about $3.2 billion and $3.6 billion. Above them, the Yankees ($5.25 billion) are in another stratosphere, and below them, the Mets, Cardinals, Phillies, and Angels are in the $2 to $2.5 billion range. Bringing up the rear, the two Florida teams, but even the Marlins ($990 million) and Rays ($1.06 billion) get you in that 10-figure range.
Owning MLB teams: still a good thing, particularly if it’s a marquee franchise in a major market.