Dallas Cowboys top Forbes’ most valuable team list

The Dallas Cowboys maintained the top spot in a ranking by Forbes magazine of the richest NFL franchises, with a value of $1.6 billion. They were followed at No. 2 by the Washington Redskins at $1.5 billion and No. 3's New England Patriots at $1.3 billion.

The Houston Texans, which yet to have a winning system since the franchise kicked off in 2000, are worth about $1.1 billion, the same as in 2007. The team slipped to No. 6 this year from No. 4 in 2007.

Breaking into the top five this year are the defending-Super Bowl-champion New York Giants, No.4, with a value of $1.18 and the New York Jets, No. 5, with a value of $1.17 billion.
The Giants and Jets, which will share a new palatial stadium in 2009, reported the biggest percentage valuation gain year-over-year of 21 percent. The Texans’ value increased 7 percent from 2007.

The Cowboys made $30.6 million on $269 million in revenue in 2007. Player salaries were $137 million and gate receipts totaled $46 million. The Cowboys have a new billion-dollar stadium under construction in Arlington, scheduled to open in 2009.

Forbes reports the Texans’ operating income in 2007 at $43.9 million based on revenue of $239 million. Player salaries were $128 million in 2007, and gate receipts increased to $48 million.

NFL Teams Have Avg. Worth of $1B

The Dallas Cowboys are elite players in one of the world’s richest sports, Forbes magazine says.
The magazine this week released its list of most valuable (or wealthiest) National Football League sports teams, and the Dallas Cowboys came out on top, with the team valued at $1.6 billion.

Forbes noted that the new Cowboys stadium is another potential boon for the team’s wealth, with the new home expected to rake in approximately $100 million more than the Cowboys' current stadium.

The Dallas Cowboys in net value are trailed by the Washington Redskins (No. 2); the New England Patriots (No. 3); the New York Giants (No. 5); the Houston Texans (No. 6); the Philadelphia Eagles (No. 7); the Indianapolis Colts (No. 8); and the Chicago Bears (No. 9).

When it comes to wealth in the NFL, the size of a team’s stadium can make all the difference in the world, according to Forbes.

In 1998, the Indianapolis Colts were ranked last on the list. However, a move into a new stadium this season has the Colts singing a different money tune. The team is currently valued at $1.1 billion, an increase of 474 percent when compared to 1998, and is ranked eighth on Forbes’ list. The Colts' new Lucas Oil Stadium is expected to add $30 million in revenue, with Lucas Oil agreeing to pay $122 million for naming rights over the next two decades, Forbes said.