The Dallas Cowboys are now the most valuable team in the National Football League — and the most valuable sports franchise in the world, Forbes reports.
The magazine has been valuating NFL teams for 18 years, and the Cowboys have held the No. 1 spot for nine consecutive years now.
After generating $620 million in revenue in 2014 — a record for U.S. sports teams — the Cowboys are worth $4 billion this year. The team also came in first place when it came to several other NFL records the past season:
- Average attendance (90,000).
- Premium seating revenue ($120 million).
- Stadium revenue generated from non-NFL events ($30 million).
The Cowboys haven’t made it to the Super Bowl in 20 years, but Forbes credits “the shrewd marketing of owner Jerry Jones and a gold mine called AT&T Stadium” with keeping the team at the top of the league financially.
The top five most valuable NFL teams this year are:
- Dallas Cowboys ($4 billion)
- New England Patriots ($3.2 billion)
- Washington Redskins ($2.85 billion)
- New York Giants ($2.8 billion)
- San Francisco 49ers ($2.7 billion)
What these NFL teams have in common besides a large net worth is that they play in large markets and in cash-rich stadiums that are run by the teams, Forbes reports.
(To learn more about the financial impact of NFL teams, check out “How NFL Game Scores Affect Stock Market Returns.”)
NFL teams claimed the No. 1 and No. 3 slots among the world’s top five most valuable sports franchises. The No. 2 and No. 5 slots went to soccer teams based in Spain, and No. 4 went to an American baseball franchise.
The top five most valuable sports teams worldwide this year are:
- Dallas Cowboys ($4 billion)
- Real Madrid ($3.26 billion)
- New England Patriots ($3.2 billion)
- New York Yankees ($3.2 billion)
- Barcelona ($3.16 billion)
What’s your response to the record-breaking worth of the Dallas Cowboys — or the amount of money generated by the NFL in general? Share your thoughts with us below or on our Facebook page.
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