Forbes: Yankees ($3.2B) Are Second Most Valuable Sports Franchise In World
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Forbes released its annual list of the 50 most valuable sports organizations in the world on Wednesday morning.
Predictably, the Bronx Bombers are toward the top.
The Yankees ($3.2 billion) are tied for second with the Cowboys behind Real Madrid ($3.26 billion).
According to the magazine, the value of the Yankees is up 28 percent from last year. New York was fourth on last year's list. In 2014, the organization led the American League in attendance, averaging 42,520 fans per game. (Derek Jeter's final campaign likely had something to do with that.)
The 27-time World Series champions have missed the playoffs each of the past two seasons, but have a good chance of returning to the postseason this year. With the second half set to begin, the Yankees are atop the American League East, 3 1/2 games in front of the second-place Rays.
Rounding out the top five is Barcelona ($3.16 billion) and Manchester United ($3.1 billion).
Other New York-area teams in the top 50 include the Knicks (No. 8, $2.5 billion), the Giants (No. 12, $2.1 billion), the Jets (No. 17, $1.8 billion), the Nets (No. 24, $1.5 billion) and the Mets (No. 32, $1.35 billion).
The list includes 20 NFL franchises, 12 MLB franchises, 10 NBA franchises and seven soccer organizations.
The only NHL team represented is the Toronto Maple Leafs (T-No. 37, $1.3 billion).