Forbes Lists Red Sox As Third-Most Valuable Team In Baseball; Yankees Remain Far In First
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Breaking news: The Boston Red Sox are worth a lot of money.
Despite a disappointing 2015 season, the franchise's valuation rose 10 percent as Forbes listed them in third place on their annual list of the most valuable teams in Major League Baseball. The team's $2.3 billion value sits behind the division rival New York Yankees, who remain far and away the most valuable franchise in baseball at $3.4 billion, despite attendance at Yankee Stadium dropping by 5.5 percent. The Los Angeles Dodgers ($2.5 billion) came in second place.
The Red Sox brought in $398 million in revenue and $43.2 million operating income in 2015. Their $325 million paid in revenue sharing was second only to the Yankees, according to Forbes.
Incredibly, the second-place Dodgers operated at a loss of $73.2 million, yet their value rose by four percent. The San Francisco Giants, who were the defending World Series champions during the 2015 season, were one of only three teams to generate over $400 million in revenue at $409 million.
The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, at fifth and sixth place, respectively, both rose 22 percent in value year-over-year, ostensibly bolstered by their deep playoff runs. The Mets, in particular, increased attendance by 18 percent and improved their average TV rating by a staggering 63 percent.
The St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Washington Nationals, and Philadelphia Phillies (who operated at an $8.9 million loss and dropped one percent in value) round out the top 10.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
