BUSINESS

How Big Money Moves in the World of Sports

USAWed Jul 09 2025

Sports is big business. To make the list of top sports empires, you need to:

  • Own at least one team worth over a billion dollars
  • Have other sports investments worth at least half a billion dollars

This means only the biggest players in the game get a spot.

Valuation Criteria

  • Only sports-related assets count.
  • Example: AEG's value is based on its sports assets, not its music or hotels.
  • Keeps things fair and focused.

Calculating Total Value

  • Not just about adding up the value of each team.
  • Uses a special number, called a multiple.
  • Ranges from 1.1 to 1.4.
  • Depends on what teams and properties are owned.
  • Sometimes adjusted based on recent deals.
  • Example: When part of the San Francisco 49ers was sold.

Sources of Valuation

  • Major leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer):
  • Valuations come from official rankings.
  • Other sports:
  • Information comes from owners, executives, sports bankers, and public records.
  • If information can't be verified:
  • Estimates are made based on similar deals.
  • Ensures valuations are as accurate as possible.

questions

    Are the multiples used by CNBC in its valuation process influenced by undisclosed external factors?
    How does CNBC's methodology ensure that the valuations of sports empires are accurate and unbiased?
    What if a sports empire's value is largely based on the owner's collection of lucky socks and broken chairs?

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