The Drubbing

This view will probably cost you $140, but you do get to watch washed up overpriced talent lose.

Forbes Fortune 500 has come out with its yearly valuation of Professional Sports Teams.   The value of these teams has yet to feel the economic impact, and that discussion i am leaving for economists, but where i have an issue is the rankings and values of certain teams.  I will list the top 10 most Valuable teams rated by Forbes.  Please keep in mind this is global and takes into account all Professional Sports.

1. Manchester United $1.8 Billion
2. Dallas Cowboys $1.6 Billion
3. Washington Redskins $1.4 Billion
4. New England Patriots $1.32 Billion
5. New York Yankees $1.3 Billion
6. Real Madrid $1.29 Billion
7. Arsenal $1.2 Billion
8. New York Giants $1.18 Billion
9. New York Jets $1.17 Billion
10. Houston Texans $1.17 Billion

Now, lets break down each team as best as I can:

I can understand Manchester United, as someone recently paid $1.4 Billion for the franchise.

The Dallas Cowboys call themselves “America’s Team” but they have not won a playoff game in 12 years.  I wonder if that $1.6 takes into account the legal fees in protecting their players?

The Washington Redskins are the biggest joke on this list.  I do not know who would pay over a billion dollars for this franchise.  I am not trying to bash the Redskins, more-so their valuation in this report.  Have any of these experts watched the NFL?  The Redskins are 112-143 since 1993, and have only won double digit games twice (10 wins each in ’99 & ’05).  While they have sold out the biggest stadium in the NFL for 12 straight years, I still think that’s a ridiculous overvalued.

The New England Patriots have won 3 Super Bowl Records, posted a perfect regular season of 16-0, and have a 97-31 record in the past 8 years.  Unlike the above 2 NFL teams, the Patriots actually have a successful product.

The New York Yankees consistently have the highest payroll in the MLB, and have recently moved into a new stadium.  While they overpay for high-priced talent, they are constantly in the mix for a title every year, just like Manchester United.

Ok lets stop right here, I admit soccer is a weak point for my knowledge, but i do understand that it is the biggest sports draw in the world, see Cup, World.  So the next two – Real Madrid and Arsenal are a little more understanding that a few of the United States teams ahead of them.

On to more US teams.  The New York Giants, really?  Outside of one of the luckiest catches in the history of the NFL, the Giants have not had much success with only 2 Super Bowl wins since 1990.  I understand that NY inflates a team’s value, especially with the cost of land in NY, but…

The New York Jets? number 9 on our list?  This is a sad team in a sad state of affairs.  This franchise has won 1 Super Bowl in its entire history, and consistently puts out a mediocre product on the field.  When a league has a salary cap, you cannot just buy high priced talent to attract fans and merchandise revenue.  Eventually this is going to impact the NY teams.

And lastly, but not least.  The Houston Texans.  I am speachless.  Franchise record in only 7 seasons of existence has a 46-72 record but has show recent signs of life.  Their new stadium has the highest naming rights in the NFL, but all good things will come to an end if they do not improve.

So that is the list, make judgments for yourself.  I look at it as impartially as possible thinking if i had $2 Billion dollars to blow which team would i buy?  Just because Forbes can name the value of a team through projections, possible revenue streams with skyboxes, luxuary seats and naming rights does not mean someone will purchase the team for the said value, nor will they turn a profit if they do purchase it at the list values.  Success brings in fans, sells merchandise, TV deals, and naming rights so while a team can be located in the most expensive city in the world, if they do not produce a competitive winning team, their fans will either switch sports or teams.