According to a ranking by Forbes magazine from January 2023, the vast majority of the global sports market is dominated by American groups or businessmen. These empires are made up of clubs, franchises, sports organizations and media, which together represent a colossal financial profit. The 10 largest sports empires alone are worth $101 billion. Here is the classification.
1-Means of freedom
This group owns the rights to the name “Formula 1”, which allows it to benefit from much of the profits generated by the races, films and various events of this motor sport.
The American consortium also owns the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise, interests in the Drone Racing League, a professional drone racing league that operates internationally, Kroenke Arena Company, an American holding company, and Meyer Shank Racing, a racing team. Sports, a sports media company. With a financial value of $21 billion, Liberty Media is the most lucrative sports empire in the world.
2-Kroenke Sports and entertainment
Stanley Kroenke alone owns a $12.75 billion sports empire. The businessman owns multiple clubs and franchises in various sports such as the Los Angeles Rams in American football, the Colorado Avalanche in ice hockey, the Denver Nuggets in basketball, as well as the Colorado Rapids and the English club Arsenal in soccer.
Additionally, the American businessman is the owner of The Guard, an esports platform, and Altitude Sports and Entertainment, a regional sports media group.
3-Jerry Jones
Tycoon Jerry Jones owns the Dallas Cowboys football franchise, as well as The Star campus, a venue that combines American football and entertainment. The American also owns shares in Legends Hospitality, a food, retail and stadium operations company that provides services to businesses, as well as GameSquare Esports, a complex dedicated to video games.
The value of all his possessions is estimated at 11.32 billion dollars, which places him in third position in this ranking.
4-Fenway Sports Group
Fourth, Fenway Sports Group is worth $10.4 billion. The American group controls Fenway Sports Management, MESN, the American sports television channel, the Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey franchise and the legendary baseball and soccer teams Boston Red Sox and Liverpool FC. The collective also includes in its portfolio the interests of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, a professional NASCAR team.
5-Sports in the Madison Square garden
This group, known for the legendary New York lounge that bears its name, is the owner of the New York Knicks basketball franchise, the New York Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack ice hockey franchises, and Counter Logic Gaming, the first sports organization electronics. All for an estimated value of 9.17 billion dollars.
6-The Kraft Group
In sixth position, another American group. The Kraft group is worth $7.94 billion. He owns Kraft Analytics Group, the New England Patriots football franchise and the New England Revolution in soccer. He also owns shares in the UFC fight organization, as well as in the American company specialized in virtual sports betting DraftKings and finally Oxygen Esports, one of the largest electronic sports organizations in the United States.
7-Yankee global companies
Number seven in the ranking is Yankee Global Enterprises with a value of 7.64 billion dollars. The group owns the New York Yankees baseball franchise and has interests in Yankee Stadium Events, the legendary team’s home stadium, and Legends Hospitality, the stadium merchandise, retail and operations company. Finally, we must add YES Network, an American sports television channel, and the New York City FC and AC Milan soccer teams.
8-The Glazer family
Eighth, the Glazer family, headed by the three brothers Bryan, Edward and Joel Glazer, owns the legendary English football club Manchester United and the well-known American football franchise Tampa Bay Buccaneers. These two possessions in the world of sports are worth 7.53 billion dollars.
9-The Paul G. Allen Trust
The Paul G. Allen Trust, worth an estimated $7.41 billion, ranks ninth. The American trust controlled by Jody Allen is responsible for the Seattle Seahawks American football franchise, the Portland Trail Blazers basketball franchise and has shares in the Seattle Sounders football club.
10-Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment
This Canadian conglomerate heads several franchises and clubs in the city of Toronto: the Toronto Raptors in basketball, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies in ice hockey, the Toronto FC in soccer, and the Toronto Argonauts in American soccer. The group has the tenth largest sports valuation in the world with a value of $6.42 billion.
Sport, a financial market in constant development
In 2023, the 25 largest sports empires in the world were valued at $173 billion, an increase of 23% compared to 2022. This exponential development is due to the ability of these players to invest in varied structures and sports to reach to a wide audience.
Economically, sport as a whole represents 2% of global GDP and its growth is estimated at 6% annually over the next three to five years. This can be explained by the development of structures and economies linked to sport in emerging countries.
Source: BFM TV
