Phillies

Forbes Ranks Phillies as 9th Most Valuable MLB Franchise

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Apr 10th, 2019 · 3:55 PM EDT

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Here they are.

The annual Forbes valuations of Major League Baseball clubs.

Your Phillies rank 9th on the list, valued at $1.85 billion dollars, which is up 9% from last year. Forbes lists the Phils’ revenue as $341 million with an operating income of $94 million.

The Yankees obviously top the list, valued at $4.6 billion.

Here’s the top 10:

1. Yank stank – $4.6 billion
2. Dodgers – $3.3 billion
3. Red Sox – $3.2 billion
4. Cubs – $3.1 billion
5. Giants – $3 billion
6. Mets – $2.3 billion
7. Cardinals – $2.1 billion
8. Angels – $1.9 billion
9. Phils – $1.85 billion
10. Astros – $1.775 billion

The Marlins bring up the rear at $1 billion. 

Interestingly enough, Forbes points out that MLB team values are up across the board, after the jump:

Bottom line: The average baseball team is now worth $1.78 billion, 8% more than a year ago. This is our 22nd rendition of MLB valuations, and over that span the average team value has increased at an 11% compound annual rate of growth. Over the same span NBA and NFL team values have increased 13% and 12%, respectively.

MLB’s central revenue (mainly national television money that is shared equally) was $2.76 billion in 2018, while local revenue (ballpark and local television money) was $7.29 billion. Thus baseball’s pecking order is driven by ticket, sponsorship and local cable television deals.

That’s a lot of money, $1.85 billion. It’s similar to what I contributed to my IRA last year.