Forbes: Diamondbacks grew 5 percent in value year-over-year
Apr 11, 2018, 8:50 AM
The grounds crew at Chase Field prepares the field prior to a spring training baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in Phoenix. The game ended in a 3-3 tie. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Arizona Diamondbacks grew 5 percent in year-over-year value and are worth $1.21 billion, according to Forbes’ 2018 baseball team values report.
That ranks as the 20th most valuable team in Major League Baseball.
Arizona posted a revenue of $258 million and an operating income of $34 million, the latter of which ranks 11th in MLB. League averages were $315 million and $29 million, respectively.
From 2016 to 2017, the Diamondbacks’ value grew by 24 percent to surpass the $1 billion mark in overall value and were worth $1.15 billion, according to last year’s Forbes report.
Now, every MLB team but the Tampa Bay Rays are valued at more than nine figures.
The New York Yankees stand head and shoulders above the rest of MLB teams and are valued at $4 billion. The Los Angeles Dodgers ($3 billion), Chicago Cubs ($2.9 billion), San Francisco Giants ($2.85 billion) and Boston Red Sox ($2.8 billion) round out the top five.
The average team is worth $1.645 billion, making for a 7 percent increase in average value across baseball.
Forbes compiled the list by speaking to bankers, team executives and industry analysts.
Values are calculated as enterprise values (equity plus net debt). Economics of the ballpark are included but the real estate values and regional sports network values are not included in Forbes’ statistics.
Revenue and operating income numbers account for “cash in versus cash out (not accrual accounting)” for the 2017 MLB season, per Forbes.
