The official stadium of Los Angeles FC, the most valuable MLS team as of the 2022 Major League Soccer season.

Forbes compiles the finances of all 28 MLS teams to produce an annual ranking of the best franchises in terms of valuation. The valuations are composed of various variables in financial information and transaction data reported by several team executives.[1] These areas are supported by applying financial metrics such as revenue and operating income to each one.[2]

The latest ranking reported that Los Angeles FC is the most valuable MLS franchise after the 2022 Major League Soccer season.[3] The fastest growing MLS franchise is the Columbus Crew with a 175% increase in valuation since the 2018 Major League Soccer season ($0.2 to $0.55 billion).[4] Los Angeles FC became the new team for highest valuation after Atlanta United FC was number one in 2019.[5]

Several media outlets have referenced in related news or conducts analytic journalism when the ranking comes out, such as The Cincinnati Enquirer and American City Business Journals.[6][7] MLS has consistently recognized the renditions of the ranking.[8][9] The report has also applied more context to MLS trends, such as the decrease in valuation in relationship with the decrease in attendance for Chicago Fire FC.[10]

Ranking

Rankings as of February 2, 2023 (2022 Major League Soccer season)

Rank Swing[a] Team Territory Value[b] Change[c] Revenue[d] Operating Income[e]
1 Increase 2 Los Angeles FC  California $1 billion Increase 110.5% $116 million $8 million
2 Steady LA Galaxy  California $0.925 billion Increase 92.7% $98 million $4 million
3 Decrease 2 Atlanta United FC  Georgia $0.85 billion Increase 70% $81 million $6 million
4 Increase 3 New York City FC  New York $0.8 billion Increase 107.8% $55 million –$12 million
5 Increase 4 D.C. United  Washington, D.C. $0.7 billion Increase 112.1% $70 million $8 million
6 Decrease 1 Toronto FC  Ontario $0.69 billion Increase 74.7% $62 million –$15 million
7 New entry Austin FC  Texas $0.68 billion New entry $84 million $2 million
8 Decrease 4 Seattle Sounders FC  Washington $0.66 billion Increase 63% $66 million $1 million
9 Decrease 3 Portland Timbers  Oregon $0.65 billion Increase 66.7% $65 million $1 million
10 New entry Charlotte FC  North Carolina $0.625 billion New entry $69 million $4 million
11 New entry Inter Miami CF  Florida $0.6 billion New entry $56 million –$5 million
12 Decrease 2 Sporting Kansas City  Missouri $0.59 billion Increase 81.5% $59 million –$3 million
13 Increase 5 Philadelphia Union  Pennsylvania $0.575 billion Increase 139.5% $54 million –$8 million
14 Steady FC Cincinnati  Ohio $0.56 billion Increase 96.5% $56 million –$1 million
15 Increase 8 Columbus Crew  Ohio $0.55 billion Increase 175% $55 million –$8 million
16 Decrease 5 Minnesota United FC  Minnesota $0.54 billion Increase 80% $54 million –$1 million
17 Decrease 4 New York Red Bulls  New York $0.525 billion Increase 81% $50 million –$6 million
18 New entry Nashville SC  Tennessee $0.5 billion New entry $46 million –$5 million
19 Decrease 2 New England Revolution  Massachusetts $0.475 billion Increase 93.9% $37 million –$4 million
20 Decrease 4 San Jose Earthquakes  California $0.45 billion Increase 63.6% $43 million –$5 million
21 Decrease 2 Real Salt Lake  Utah $0.44 billion Increase 87.2% $43 million $0 million
22 Decrease 7 Houston Dynamo FC  Texas $0.435 billion Increase 55.4% $39 million –$10 million
23 Decrease 15 Chicago Fire FC  Illinois $0.425 billion Increase 26.9%% $25 million –$18 million
24 Decrease 12 Orlando City SC  Florida $0.420 billion Increase 42.4% $42 million –$4 million
25 Decrease 4 Vancouver Whitecaps FC  British Columbia $0.41 billion Increase 90.7% $21 million –$15 million
26 Decrease 6 FC Dallas  Texas $0.4 billion Increase 81.8% $40 million –$8 million
27 Decrease 5 CF Montréal  Quebec $0.375 billion Increase 78.6% $30 million –$12 million
28 Decrease 4 Colorado Rapids  Colorado $0.35 billion Increase 84.2% $33 million –$5 million

Historical valuations

Historical valuations (in US$ millions) by MLS club[f]
Team 2022 2018
Los Angeles FC 1,000 475
LA Galaxy 925 480
Atlanta United FC 850 500
New York City FC 800 385
D.C. United 700 330
Toronto FC 690 395
Austin FC 680 New entry
Seattle Sounders FC 660 405
Portland Timbers 650 390
Charlotte FC 625 New entry
Inter Miami CF 600 New entry
Sporting Kansas City 590 325
Philadelphia Union 575 240
FC Cincinnati 560 285
Columbus Crew 550 200
Minnesota United FC 540 300
New York Red Bulls 525 290
Nashville SC 500 New entry
New England Revolution 475 245
San Jose Earthquakes 450 275
Real Salt Lake 440 235
Houston Dynamo FC 435 280
Chicago Fire FC 425 335
Orlando City SC 420 295
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 410 215
FC Dallas 400 220
CF Montréal 375 210
Colorado Rapids 350 190

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Movement of spots in the ranking from the 2018 Major League Soccer season to the 2023 Major League Soccer season.
  2. ^ Value of team (in USD) based on current stadium deal (unless new stadium is pending), without deduction for debt (other than stadium debt).
  3. ^ Change of valuation from the 2018 Major League Soccer season to the 2023 Major League Soccer season.
  4. ^ Revenue in USD.
  5. ^ Earnings (in USD) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
  6. ^ Financial data taken from the 2023 and 2019 Forbes valuations articles.

References

  1. ^ "Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams 2019: Atlanta Stays On Top As Expansion Fees, Sale Prices Surge". Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Clubs 2023: LAFC Is The First Billion-Dollar Franchise". Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "LAFC". Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "Save The Crew: How A Seemingly Impossible Mission Now Seems Very Possible For The Columbus Crew". Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  5. ^ "LAFC value hits 1 billion dollars, but who's buying?". World Soccer Talk. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "Report: FC Cincinnati's value climbed from $285M to $560M". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "David Tepper MLS team Charlotte FC nearly doubles in value: Forbes". American City Business Journals. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Forbes releases annual MLS team valuations as Seattle and LA lead the way". Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  9. ^ "Atlanta United retain top spot in Forbes' annual MLS team valuations". Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "All-Time Attendance". Chicago Fire FC. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
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