Forbes list of the most valuable MLS clubs

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The official stadium of Los Angeles FC, the most valuable MLS club as of the 2022 Major League Soccer season. LAFC vs Philadelphia Union (2018) by Subashwilfred.jpg
The official stadium of Los Angeles FC, the most valuable MLS club as of the 2022 Major League Soccer season.

Forbes compiles the finances of all 29 MLS clubs to produce an annual ranking of the best franchises in terms of valuation. The valuations are composed of various variables in financial information and transaction data reported by several club executives. [1] These areas are supported by applying financial metrics such as revenue and operating income to each one. [2]

Contents

The latest ranking reported that Los Angeles FC is the most valuable MLS franchise after the 2023 Major League Soccer season. [3] The fastest growing MLS franchise is Inter Miami CF with a 72% increase in valuation since the 2022 Major League Soccer season with the arrival of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. Los Angeles FC became the new club for highest valuation after Atlanta United FC held the position in 2019. [4]

Several media outlets have referenced in related news or conducts analytic journalism when the ranking comes out, such as The Cincinnati Enquirer and American City Business Journals. [5] [6] MLS has consistently recognized the renditions of the ranking. [7] [8] The report has also applied more context to MLS trends, such as the decrease in valuation in relationship with the decrease in attendance for Chicago Fire FC. [9]

Ranking

Rankings as of March 15, 2024 (2023 Major League Soccer season)

RankSwingClubTerritoryValue [a] Change [b] Revenue [c] Operating Income [d]
1Steady2.svg Los Angeles FC Flag of California.svg  California $1.2 billionIncrease2.svg 20%$140 million$9 million
2Increase2.svg 9 Inter Miami CF Flag of Florida.svg  Florida $1.03 billionIncrease2.svg 72%$118 million$8 million
3Decrease2.svg 1 LA Galaxy Flag of California.svg  California $0.95 billionIncrease2.svg 3%$95 million$3 million
4Decrease2.svg 1 Atlanta United FC Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg  Georgia $0.9 billionIncrease2.svg 6%$95 million$9 million
5Decrease2.svg 1 New York City FC Flag of New York.svg  New York $0.85 billionIncrease2.svg 6%$70 million–$9 million
6Decrease2.svg 1 Seattle Sounders FC Flag of Washington.svg  Washington $0.785 billionIncrease2.svg 19%$75 million$2 million
7Decrease2.svg 2 D.C. United Flag of Washington, D.C.svg  Washington, D.C. $0.775 billionIncrease2.svg 11%$85 million$10 million
8Decrease2.svg 1 Austin FC Flag of Texas.svg  Texas $0.75 billionIncrease2.svg 10%$87 million$3 million
9Decrease2.svg 3 Toronto FC Flag of Ontario.svg  Ontario $0.725 billionIncrease2.svg 5%$69 million–$12 million
10Steady2.svg Charlotte FC Flag of North Carolina.svg  North Carolina $0.69 billionIncrease2.svg 10%$80 million$6 million
11New.png St. Louis City SC Flag of Missouri.svg  Missouri $0.68 billionNew.png$70 million–$2 million
12Increase2.svg 1 Philadelphia Union Flag of Pennsylvania.svg  Pennsylvania $0.67 billionIncrease2.svg 17%$69 million–$7 million
13Decrease2.svg 4 Portland Timbers Flag of Oregon.svg  Oregon $0.66 billionIncrease2.svg 2%$67 million$1 million
14Steady2.svg FC Cincinnati Flag of Ohio.svg  Ohio $0.65 billionIncrease2.svg 16%$71 million$10 million
15Steady2.svg Columbus Crew Flag of Ohio.svg  Ohio $0.64 billionIncrease2.svg 16%$61 million–$6 million
16Decrease2.svg 4 Sporting Kansas City Flag of Kansas.svg  Kansas $0.63 billionIncrease2.svg 7%$65 million–$1 million
17Decrease2.svg 1 Minnesota United FC Flag of Minnesota.svg  Minnesota $0.6 billionIncrease2.svg 11%$62 million–$5 million
18Steady2.svg Nashville SC Flag of Tennessee.svg  Tennessee $0.57 billionIncrease2.svg 14%$57 million$0 million
19Decrease2.svg 2 New York Red Bulls Flag of New Jersey.svg  New Jersey $0.56 billionIncrease2.svg 7%$56 million–$2 million
20Increase2.svg 2 Houston Dynamo FC Flag of Texas.svg  Texas $0.53 billionIncrease2.svg 22%$45 million–$10 million
21Decrease2.svg 2 New England Revolution Flag of Massachusetts.svg  Massachusetts $0.52 billionIncrease2.svg 9%$45 million$0 million
22Increase2.svg 1 Chicago Fire FC Flag of Illinois.svg  Illinois $0.515 billionIncrease2.svg 21%$45 million$0 million
23Decrease2.svg 3 San Jose Earthquakes Flag of California.svg  California $0.505 billionIncrease2.svg 12%$49 million–$5 million
24Increase2.svg 2 FC Dallas Flag of Texas.svg  Texas $0.5 billionIncrease2.svg 25%$45 million–$9 million
25Decrease2.svg 4 Real Salt Lake Flag of Utah.svg  Utah $0.485 billionIncrease2.svg 10%$47 million$0
26Decrease2.svg 2 Orlando City SC Flag of Florida.svg  Florida $0.475 billionIncrease2.svg 13%$46 million–$3 million
27Steady2.svg CF Montréal Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec $0.43 billionIncrease2.svg 15%$40 million–$8 million
28Decrease2.svg 3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia $0.42 billionIncrease2.svg 2%$25 million–$14 million
29Decrease2.svg 1 Colorado Rapids Flag of Colorado.svg  Colorado $0.4 billionIncrease2.svg 14%$38 million–$5 million

Historical valuations

Historical valuations (in US$ millions) by MLS club [e]
Club 2023 2018
Los Angeles FC 1,200475
Inter Miami CF 1,030New.png
LA Galaxy 950480
Atlanta United FC 900500
New York City FC 850385
Seattle Sounders FC 785405
D.C. United 775330
Austin FC 750New.png
Toronto FC 725395
Charlotte FC 690New.png
St. Louis City SC 680New.png
Philadelphia Union 670240
Portland Timbers 660390
FC Cincinnati 650285
Columbus Crew 640200
Sporting Kansas City 630325
Minnesota United FC 600300
Nashville SC 570New.png
New York Red Bulls 560290
Houston Dynamo FC 530280
New England Revolution 520245
Chicago Fire FC 515335
San Jose Earthquakes 505275
FC Dallas 500220
Real Salt Lake 485235
Orlando City SC 475295
CF Montréal 430210
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 420215
Colorado Rapids 400190

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Value of team (in USD) based on current stadium deal (unless new stadium is pending), without deduction for debt (other than stadium debt).
  2. ↑ Change of valuation from the 2018 Major League Soccer season to the 2023 Major League Soccer season.
  3. ↑ Revenue in USD.
  4. ↑ Earnings (in USD) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
  5. ↑ Financial data taken from the 2023 and 2019 Forbes valuations articles.

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References

  1. ↑ "Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams 2019: Atlanta Stays On Top As Expansion Fees, Sale Prices Surge". Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Clubs 2023: LAFC Is The First Billion-Dollar Franchise". Forbes . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  3. ↑ "LAFC". Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  4. ↑ "LAFC value hits 1 billion dollars, but who's buying?". World Soccer Talk. February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Report: FC Cincinnati's value climbed from $285M to $560M". The Cincinnati Enquirer . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  6. ↑ "David Tepper MLS team Charlotte FC nearly doubles in value: Forbes". American City Business Journals . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Forbes releases annual MLS team valuations as Seattle and LA lead the way". Major League Soccer . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Atlanta United retain top spot in Forbes' annual MLS team valuations". Major League Soccer . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  9. ↑ "All-Time Attendance". Chicago Fire FC . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
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