The NFL has reasserted its prowess over global sports by once again dominating the ranks of the world’s most valuable sports teams.

Thirty of the 32 NFL teams secured a place on Forbes’ top 50 list, with six in the top 10. Together, the 50 teams are worth $222.7 billion, representing a 30% year-over-year increase — the biggest in five years.

The Dallas Cowboys top the list with an $8 billion valuation — Jerry Jones purchased the team in 1989 for $150 million. The New England Patriots took the second spot at $6.4 billion, with the Los Angeles Rams following at $6.2 billion.

• Nos. 4, 5: New York Yankees, New York Giants ($6 billion)
• Nos. 6, 7: New York Knicks, Chicago Bears ($5.8 billion)
• Nos. 8, 9: Golden State Warriors, Washington Commanders ($5.6 billion)
• No. 10: Los Angeles Lakers ($5.5 billion)

The NFL hasn’t had at least 30 teams on the list since 2014.

Lost From The List

Chelsea FC came in at No. 50 with a $3.1 billion valuation, but still beat out every team from several other professional leagues.

The New York Rangers are the most valuable NHL team at $2 billion. The Indian Premier League’s most valuable team, the Mumbai Indians, sits at $1.3 billion, and MLS’ most valuable club, Los Angeles FC, has an $860 million valuation.

Disney isn’t interested in letting ESPN go anytime soon.

When Daniel Loeb’s Third Point increased its stake in Disney last month, the activist investor sent a letter to Disney CEO Bob Chapek calling on him to spin off the sports network.

“ESPN would have greater flexibility to pursue business initiatives that may be more difficult as part of Disney, such as sports betting,” Loeb wrote.

On Wednesday, Disney CFO Christine McCarthy said the company likes “the hand we have with ESPN.”

• McCarthy added that Disney’s teams are always looking for  alternatives “where we would be better off doing something different.” 
• She said Disney sees “ESPN as being part of our overall portfolio.”

Prior to Loeb’s comments — which also called for cost cuts, a revamped board of directors, and a faster Hulu takeover timeline — outlets reported that Disney was considering a spinoff, but had abandoned the idea.

Disney recently reported $21.5 billion in third-quarter revenue.

A Big Gamble

Whether or not Disney would spin off ESPN, sports betting seems to be in the company’s current discussions. Chapek said in Disney’s last earnings call that the Mouse was in talks with sportsbooks about integrating betting opportunities during sports broadcasts.

“Our sports fans that are under 30 absolutely require this type of utility,” Chapek said.

The WNBA has enjoyed another viewership upswing this postseason — an increase of 42% compared to last year’s playoffs. 

But that trend now faces a big challenge: Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on ESPN goes head-to-head Sunday against Week 1 of the NFL regular season — one of up to three times the Las Vegas Aces and the Connecticut Sun could compete for eyeballs against the behemoth that is The Shield. 

• ESPN and WNBA work to avoid such conflicts, and last year’s finals didn’t begin until October.
• The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup — which starts later this month — contributed to a condensed WNBA schedule and made conflicts inescapable, those close to the schedule’s composition told Front Office Sports.

Even Mark Davis — the Las Vegas Raiders’ controlling owner who purchased the Aces last year and has been a regular at games since — has a choice to make. The Raiders kick off on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers about 80 minutes after Game 1 of the WNBA Finals tips off around noon local time on Sunday.

Beyond Current TV Deal

The WNBA receives $25 million per season through 2025 from its TV deal with ESPN. The next package is expected to result not only in a major rights fee bump, but also more freedom in scheduling. 

“The new deal will be crucial for the growth of the league, especially when it comes to gender pay equity,” said Khristina Williams, founder of Girls Talk Sports TV.

Cricket Australia is looking to increase the asking price for its next domestic media rights contract after securing an expensive deal to broadcast games in India through Disney.

“We’ve got a great product,” Cricket Australia chair Lachlan Henderson said. “Cricket currently is undervalued in terms of its media rights.”

• In 2018, Cricket Australia signed a six-year, $809 million domestic media rights deal with Foxtel and Seven Network.
• Before the pact, Cricket Australia had spent four decades airing games domestically through free-to-air TV broadcaster Nine Network. 

In July, Seven initiated court proceedings in Australia’s federal court in an effort to terminate its $310 million media rights deal with Cricket Australia, claiming that the national governing body of cricket has breached its contract. 

Australian cricket’s Big Bash League, whose last two seasons were disrupted by the pandemic, is reportedly at the center of the dispute. 

Seven reportedly saw its average national TV audience for the 2020-21 BBL regular season drop by 10%, while Foxtel reported a 28% increase with an average audience of 256,000. 

The claim came as a surprise to Cricket Australia, which stated it delivered “two very successful cricket seasons.” 

Global Reach 

In July, Cricket Australia landed a deal with Disney worth $250 million to broadcast games in India via Disney Star — an Indian subsidiary of the entertainment giant.

For seven years starting in 2023, Disney Star will air international matches and both men’s and women’s BBL games.