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SPORTS SHORTS

Forbes has published the list of the most valuable season. General Motors pays an average of $80 million
sporting franchises in the World and the Dallas Cowboys annually to promote its Chevy brand on the shirts of
come top, leading 29 NFL teams among the world’s 50 the Red Devils. Adidas outbid Nike for kit manufacturer/
most valuable sports clubs. Furthermore, every NFL sponsor rights in a deal that’s worth nearly $1 billion over
team turned a profit of at least US$26 million for the 2015 10 years, starting from the ‘15-‘16 season.
season. In addition to the 29 teams from the NFL among the
The New York Yankees finances are still tops in top 50 (versus 27 last year), there are eight MLB (up from
baseball. The Yankees are the world’s second most seven) and seven each from the NBA and European
valuable team, worth US$3.7 billion, up 9% from 2016. soccer (both had eight entries in 2016).
A trio of soccer clubs round out the top five, with Two teams (Houston Rockets and Liverpool FC) fell
Manchester United leapfrogging Spanish giants out of the top 50, while British soccer club Arsenal had
Barcelona (US$3.64 billion) and Real Madrid (US$3.58 the biggest decline, falling 20 spots to No. 43. Arsenal’s
billion). United is worth US$3.69 billion, up 11% over last value fell 4% to $1.93 billion largely due to the decline
year. in the British pound following Britain’s vote to leave the
Manchester United beat Ajax in the Europa League European Union.
final to secure a place in next season’s Champions The franchise values are based on Forbes valuations
League. done over the past year for NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, F1,
Premier League clubs have the biggest domestic and soccer and Nascar (no NHL, F1 or Nascar teams made
international TV deals among soccer leagues; United the top 50). Forbes’ team values reflect enterprise values
separates itself from the pack with its sponsorship and (equity plus debt) based on current venue deals unless a
advertising haul, which hit US$405 million for the 2015-16 new venue is pending.

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