According to the most recent reports by financial analysts Forbes, Spanish giants Real Madrid have replaced English Premiership champions Manchester United as the world’s most valuable sports outfit.
The La Liga outfit is now worth $3.3 billion, surpassing former No. 1 Manchester United. Los Blancos have the highest revenues of any team in sports ($650 million during the 2011-12 season), and revenues are up 62% over the last three years.
The club extended its kit supply deal with Adidas last year in a pact worth $42 million a year. Madrid inked its largest sponsorship deal ever this spring with Emirates. The deal to put the Dubai-based airline’s name on the team’s shirts is worth $39 million annually for five years starting next season.
Madrid is planning a $320 million renovation to its stadium, Santiago Bernabeu, which could add $60 million a year to revenues by 2018.
United ranks second with a value of $3.17 billion. The club launched an initial offering to the public in August and the stock is up 23% since then. Fans cheered United’s record 20th English Premier League title this year, while investors are excited about soaring sponsorship revenues.
The Red Devils signed a seven-year, $559 million shirt sponsorship deal last year with Chevrolet. The team inked a naming rights pact for its training facility with insurer Aon in April. The deal is expected to net United more than $200 million over eight years. The club has 32 official sponsors in total.
Barcelona completes a sweep of the top three by European soccer clubs. The reigning La Liga champs are worth $2.6 billion on the strength of $613 million in annual revenue. Barca used part of its cash stockpile this spring to nab Brazilian sensation Neymar for a transfer fee of $74 million.
The 21-year-old signed a five-year deal with the team. Barcelona has the biggest social media following of any sports team with 61 million Facebook fans and Twitter followers. It is more than the 30 richest NFL teams combined.
1. Real Madrid
2. Manchester United.
3. FC Barcelona
4. New York Yankees.
5. Dallas Cowboys.
6. New England Patriots.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers.
8. Washington Redskins.
9. New York Giants
10. Arsenal.
11. Boston Red Sox
12. Bayern Munich.
13. Houston Texans
14. New York Jets.
15. Philadelphia Eagles.
16. Chicago Bears.
17. San Francisco 49ers.
18. Green Bay Packers.
19. Baltimore Ravens.
20. Indianapolis Colts
21. Ferrari.
22. Denver Broncos
23. New York Knicks.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
25. Miami Dolphins
26. Carolina Panthers.
27. Seattle Seahawks.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
29. Tennessee Titans
30. Kansas City Chiefs
31. Chicago Cubs
32. Los Angeles Lakers.
33. Toronto Maple Leafs.
34. Cleveland Browns
35. Minnesota Vikings
36. New Orleans Saints.
37. AC Milan.
38. San Diego Chargers
39. Arizona Cardinals.
40. Chelsea.
41. Philadelphia Phillies.
42. Cincinnati Bengals.
43. Detroit Lions.
44. Atlanta Falcons.
45. New York Mets
46. Buffalo Bills
47. Chicago Bulls
48. McLaren
49. San Francisco Giants
50. Oakland Raiders.
