By Lucy Coleman September 9,2022
The NFL teams are among the richest in the world of sports and the most lucrative investment.
With fans returning to stadiums for the 2021-22 season with the waning of the pandemic, franchise values have gone up an average of 28% from the preceding season.
Three main factors influence the financial success of an NFL team; stadium revenues, the performance of the team, and media contracts.
NFL teams also generate revenue from various sources such as merchandise sales, corporate sponsorships, and ticket sales.
The financial success of an NFL team is reflected in its net worth, which is the value of its asset minus its abilities.
Here is a list of the 7 richest NFL football teams from the least to the top.
7. CHICAGO BEARS – $4 BILLION
At $4.07 billion, the Chicago Bears are number 7 on our list.
The Chicago Bears was founded in 1920 and owned by the McCaskey family, who purchased the team for $100 the year it was founded.
Situated in Illinois, they have the NFL record for the most players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and are renowned for their large fan base.
Their home games are played at Soldier Field stadium which has a seating capacity of 61,500 and a ticket price averaging $129.
Sponsors of the Bears include United Airlines Holdings, Verizon Communications, and Keurig Dr. Pepper
The Bears generate revenue of over $500 million, with an operating income of $156 million and a debt-to-value of 2% ratio.
6. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – $4.1 BILLION
The San Francisco 49ers football franchise boasts a net worth of $4.175 billion.
Owned by Jed York, the billionaire York family has consistently invested in the team, building the best facilities for the team and equipping the 49ers with the best talent.
With a revenue of over $570 million and an operating income of $142 million, the money earned from ticket sales is over $84 million while player expenses are worth $270 million. This gives the 49ers a wins-to-player cost ratio of over 130 and shows a solid return on investment for the team.
The home games are played at Levi’s Stadium which has a seating capacity of over 68,000 and ticket prices averaged $140. The major sponsors of the 49ers include PepsiCo, Yahoo, Levi Strauss & Co, Visa, and Toyota Motor company. The 49ers entered into a deal with Fox Sports Mexico to broadcast all preseason games and give exclusive content throughout the regular season.
5. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS- $4.3 BILLION
The Commanders are on the list of one of the wealthiest teams in the NFL due to their solid financial backing by their owner, billionaire Daniel Snyder, who has heavily invested in the team.
In addition to Snyder’s backing, the Commanders have a vast and loyal fan base that generates a huge sum of money through gear sales, ticket sales, and sponsorships.
Ticket sales to home games at Audi Field in Washington are one of the primary sources of revenue for the Commanders and the ticket prices vary depending on the seats availability and location.
Sales of team-branded items which can be sold at the stadium, retail or online stores provide another source of revenue for the team.
Revenue can also be generated from partnerships and sponsorships.
4. LOS ANGELES RAMS- $4.8 BILLION
The Los Angeles Rams are considered among the wealthiest due to their lucrative stadium deal.
In 2020, the Rams moved into a billion-dollar state-of-the-art facility called the SoFi Stadium.
The SoFi Stadium has a seating capacity of over 70,000 and includes more than 250 luxury suites and over 16,000 club seats.
With high-profile sponsorships from Verizon and Toyota, the team’s financial standing has seen an improvement.nRevenue is also generated from merchandise sales and television contracts.
The television contracts have contributed a significant portion to the Rams’ revenue by broadcasting its games and paying the team an agreed fee.
SoFi Stadium is the home field to the Rams as well as the Los Angeles Chargers.
3. NEW YORK GIANTS- $4.85 BILLION
With a net worth of $4.85 billion, the New York Giants are one of the wealthiest professional football franchises in America.
Established in 1925, the Giants are one of the most successful teams in NFL history with the most talented players on their team.
These talented players contribute to the team’s value and help to build a devoted fan base for the team.
Corporate sponsorships and sales of tickets and merchandise also generate revenue for the team.
The team has bagged high-profile sponsorships with brands such as Toyota, Anheuser-Busch, and Nike which has added to the team’s revenue.
2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – $6.5 BILLION
At $6.5 billion, the New England Patriots are the second-richest NFL franchise.
Formed in 1960, the team has a reputation for being successful and bagging six Super Bowls.
Besides being successful on the field, the Patriots possess strong financial performance and can generate revenue through multiple channels such as sponsorships, merchandise, and ticket sales.
The devoted fan base, defined brand, on-field performance, and substantial sponsorships with high-profile brands such as Nike and the Bank of America, contribute immensely to the Patriots’ financial success.
1. DALLAS COWBOYS- $8 BILLION
With a net value of $8 billion, the Dallas Cowboys are the richest NFL franchise.
In 2018, they made history as the first NFL team valued at $5 billion.
The Cowboys are ranked as the most valued sports franchises in the world and they have a strong following both nationally and internationally.
When they announced a partnership with Blockchain.com, the Cowboys made history as the first NFL team to get involved with cryptocurrency, Web3, and digital technologies.
The team’s home stadium is the AT&T Stadium which is owned by the City of Arlington with a seating capacity of 100,000 and an average ticket price of $100.
Ford, PepsiCo, and NRG Energy are major sponsors of the Cowboys.
In September of 2021, the Cowboys announced a $200 million partnership with multinational beverage giant Molson Coors.
When you take into account all the sponsorships, endorsements, and sales made from tickets and merchandise, it isn’t difficult to see why these teams are valued at such high prices.
