Forbes list of the most valuable MLS clubs

The official stadium of Los Angeles FC, the most valuable MLS club as of the 2022 Major League Soccer season.

Forbes compiles the finances of all 29 MLS clubs to produce an annual ranking of the best franchises in terms of valuation. The valuations are composed of various variables in financial information and transaction data reported by several club executives.[1] These areas are supported by applying financial metrics such as revenue and operating income to each one.[2]

The latest ranking reported that Los Angeles FC is the most valuable MLS franchise after the 2023 Major League Soccer season.[3] The fastest growing MLS franchise is Inter Miami CF with a 72% increase in valuation since the 2022 Major League Soccer season with the arrival of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. Los Angeles FC became the new club for highest valuation after Atlanta United FC held the position in 2019.[4]

Several media outlets have referenced in related news or conducts analytic journalism when the ranking comes out, such as The Cincinnati Enquirer and American City Business Journals.[5][6] MLS has consistently recognized the renditions of the ranking.[7][8] The report has also applied more context to MLS trends, such as the decrease in valuation in relationship with the decrease in attendance for Chicago Fire FC.[9]

Ranking

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Rankings as of March 15, 2024 (2023 Major League Soccer season)

Rank Swing Club Territory Value[a] Change[b] Revenue[c] Operating Income[d]
1 Steady Los Angeles FC  California $1.2 billion Increase 20% $140 million $9 million
2 Increase 9 Inter Miami CF  Florida $1.03 billion Increase 72% $118 million $8 million
3 Decrease 1 LA Galaxy  California $0.95 billion Increase 3% $95 million $3 million
4 Decrease 1 Atlanta United FC  Georgia $0.9 billion Increase 6% $95 million $9 million
5 Decrease 1 New York City FC  New York $0.85 billion Increase 6% $70 million –$9 million
6 Decrease 1 Seattle Sounders FC  Washington $0.785 billion Increase 19% $75 million $2 million
7 Decrease 2 D.C. United  Washington, D.C. $0.775 billion Increase 11% $85 million $10 million
8 Decrease 1 Austin FC  Texas $0.75 billion Increase 10% $87 million $3 million
9 Decrease 3 Toronto FC  Ontario $0.725 billion Increase 5% $69 million –$12 million
10 Steady Charlotte FC  North Carolina $0.69 billion Increase 10% $80 million $6 million
11 New entry St. Louis City SC  Missouri $0.68 billion New entry $70 million –$2 million
12 Increase 1 Philadelphia Union  Pennsylvania $0.67 billion Increase 17% $69 million –$7 million
13 Decrease 4 Portland Timbers  Oregon $0.66 billion Increase 2% $67 million $1 million
14 Steady FC Cincinnati  Ohio $0.65 billion Increase 16% $71 million $10 million
15 Steady Columbus Crew  Ohio $0.64 billion Increase 16% $61 million –$6 million
16 Decrease 4 Sporting Kansas City  Kansas $0.63 billion Increase 7% $65 million –$1 million
17 Decrease 1 Minnesota United FC  Minnesota $0.6 billion Increase 11% $62 million –$5 million
18 Steady Nashville SC  Tennessee $0.57 billion Increase 14% $57 million $0 million
19 Decrease 2 New York Red Bulls  New Jersey $0.56 billion Increase 7% $56 million –$2 million
20 Increase 2 Houston Dynamo FC  Texas $0.53 billion Increase 22% $45 million –$10 million
21 Decrease 2 New England Revolution  Massachusetts $0.52 billion Increase 9% $45 million $0 million
22 Increase 1 Chicago Fire FC  Illinois $0.515 billion Increase 21% $45 million $0 million
23 Decrease 3 San Jose Earthquakes  California $0.505 billion Increase 12% $49 million –$5 million
24 Increase 2 FC Dallas  Texas $0.5 billion Increase 25% $45 million –$9 million
25 Decrease 4 Real Salt Lake  Utah $0.485 billion Increase 10% $47 million $0
26 Decrease 2 Orlando City SC  Florida $0.475 billion Increase 13% $46 million –$3 million
27 Steady CF Montréal  Quebec $0.43 billion Increase 15% $40 million –$8 million
28 Decrease 3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC  British Columbia $0.42 billion Increase 2% $25 million –$14 million
29 Decrease 1 Colorado Rapids  Colorado $0.4 billion Increase 14% $38 million –$5 million

Historical valuations

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Historical valuations (in US$ millions) by MLS club[e]
Club 2023 2018
Los Angeles FC 1,200 475
Inter Miami CF 1,030 New entry
LA Galaxy 950 480
Atlanta United FC 900 500
New York City FC 850 385
Seattle Sounders FC 785 405
D.C. United 775 330
Austin FC 750 New entry
Toronto FC 725 395
Charlotte FC 690 New entry
St. Louis City SC 680 New entry
Philadelphia Union 670 240
Portland Timbers 660 390
FC Cincinnati 650 285
Columbus Crew 640 200
Sporting Kansas City 630 325
Minnesota United FC 600 300
Nashville SC 570 New entry
New York Red Bulls 560 290
Houston Dynamo FC 530 280
New England Revolution 520 245
Chicago Fire FC 515 335
San Jose Earthquakes 505 275
FC Dallas 500 220
Real Salt Lake 485 235
Orlando City SC 475 295
CF Montréal 430 210
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 420 215
Colorado Rapids 400 190

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Value of team (in USD) based on current stadium deal (unless new stadium is pending), without deduction for debt (other than stadium debt).
  2. ^ Change of valuation from the 2018 Major League Soccer season to the 2023 Major League Soccer season.
  3. ^ Revenue in USD.
  4. ^ Earnings (in USD) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
  5. ^ Financial data taken from the 2023 and 2019 Forbes valuations articles.

References

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  1. ^ "Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams 2019: Atlanta Stays On Top As Expansion Fees, Sale Prices Surge". Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Clubs 2023: LAFC Is The First Billion-Dollar Franchise". Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "LAFC". Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "LAFC value hits 1 billion dollars, but who's buying?". World Soccer Talk. February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  5. ^ "Report: FC Cincinnati's value climbed from $285M to $560M". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "David Tepper MLS team Charlotte FC nearly doubles in value: Forbes". American City Business Journals. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "Forbes releases annual MLS team valuations as Seattle and LA lead the way". Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Atlanta United retain top spot in Forbes' annual MLS team valuations". Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  9. ^ "All-Time Attendance". Chicago Fire FC. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
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