In today’s world, professional sports are an enormous business. They attract millions of fans who come out in droves to cheer on their favourite teams and watch them play live. Some people watch from their homes while playing casino games online. In contrast, others prefer to go to their local tavern and enjoy the game with an ice-cold beverage. This is in addition to the revenue-generating attendance at the playing stadiums and diverse locations. Some have side bets on game scores and final results, while others have a sense of pride and admiration for the clubs they support. This is because professional sports are now one of the most lucrative enterprises on the planet. It’s a phenomenon that’s taken the entire world by storm.
People enjoy sports for a variety of reasons: they are enjoyable, exhilarating, healthful, unpredictable, and they make us feel alive. However, the most prosperous sports leagues are primarily a business for sports executives. Sports are now one of the most profitable segments of the entertainment industry, bringing in billions of dollars from various sources. Sponsorships, ticket income, transfers, stadium rentals, media deals, merchandise, and other money streams benefit sports leagues and clubs. In addition, billionaires usually own sports teams and bet on prestigious online sportsbook. They spend a lot of money on new players, new stadiums and arenas, and brand management.
Without further ado, I give you some of the most lucrative sports played across the globe.
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NFL – American Football
From a purely financial standpoint, the NFL is the king. With most of its admirers hailing from the United States and Canada, there is little interest outside of these countries. In 2017 and 2018, the NFL made over $13 and $16 billion in revenue, respectively, with revenue predicted to increase by $5 billion next year. In addition, ESPN, Fox, NBC, and several other television networks have long-term contracts with the NFL. All of these contribute to the majority of the company’s annual revenue. In addition, the NFL distributes half of its revenue to its 32 franchises, with 29 of the top 50 wealthiest franchises in the world.
MLB – Baseball
Baseball is another sport that lacks a genuinely worldwide following, with most of its supporters hailing from North America. MLB’s gross revenues were $1.2 billion in 1992 but have risen to $10.3 billion in 2018 and $10.7 billion in 2019. This translates to a profit of more than $300 million for each team that competed last season. In addition, famous baseball clubs make millions of dollars from ticket sales each season, with an average ticket price per game of $32.44 in 2018.
NBA – Basketball
Given that basketball is presently ranked among the top five most popular and followed sports in the world, it’s no surprise, with an estimated 800 million fans worldwide. In addition, the NBA generates $500 million in worldwide media revenue via lucrative arrangements with national TV broadcasters. According to Forbes, an NBA franchise is valued at, at least $1 billion, while an average NBA team is worth $1.87 billion in 2019. Fans’ attendance and ticket purchases show a steady increase in NBA games, with no complaints about ticket costs. The Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, and Golden State Warriors are worth more than $2 billion.
IPL – Cricket
Cricket is not one of the most popular sports in the world. Therefore its inclusion on our list of the most lucrative sports leagues is shocking. The Indian Premier League’s numbers are much more than hockey and even the finest football competitions. A league with only eight teams that generally play for two months out of the year generates $7 billion in revenue. However, when you realise that India has 1.339 billion people and cricket is their favourite sport, you can understand the bigger picture. When a significant cricket match takes place in India, all other activities are put on hold.
EPL – Football (Soccer)
The Premier League is the most-watched sports league globally, especially when it comes to football games, despite being light years behind American Sports. The Premier League game is limited to teams from England and Wales. Yet, it is nonetheless watched by people all around the world. Every club in the English Premier League makes money from commercial and sponsorship arrangements. The English Premier League earns $5.3 billion in income from television broadcasting rights. The Premier League, for example, inked a $13.6 billion three-year television contract in 2016. This money was split evenly among the league’s 20 teams.
So, there you have it, some of the wealthiest leagues and organisations in the world today. Of course, wealth can be defined by many things, but there is no doubt that money talks!
