12-08-2016, 02:17 PM
The Cincinnati Bengals are worth a lot more than they were a year ago, and owner Mike Brown has new NFL stadiums and franchise moves to thank.
The Bengals franchise is worth an estimated $1.68 billion, according to Forbes magazine's annual NFL franchise value calculations.
The Cincinnati Bengals' franchise value rose 16 percent from a year ago, according to Forbes.
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The Cincinnati Bengals' franchise value rose 16 percent from a year ago, according to… more
That valuation rose 16 percent from a year ago. The average NFL franchise increased in value by 19 percent to $2.3 billion.
The Bengals dropped to 30th among the 32 NFL teams in value after placing 29th a year ago. Only the Detroit Lions, at $1.65 billion, and the Buffalo Bills, at $1.5 billion, are worth less than the Bengals among NFL franchises. Even the Cleveland Browns, worth $1.85 billion, top the Bengals valuation.
The Dallas Cowboys are again the most valuable NFL franchise at a whopping $4.2 billion.
Don’t weep too much for Mike Brown, though. Forbes says the Brown family paid $7 million for the franchise back in 1967. That’s not a bad return on their investment given current valuations.
The Bengals’ $329 million revenue rose 11 percent, but it ranks among the smallest the NFL. Still, Forbes estimates the Bengals generated $60 million in operating income. That climbed 8 percent from a year ago.
The team plows much of that back into the roster. Player costs rose 17 percent to $185 million, according to Forbes.
While the NFL shares much of its revenue, bigger-market teams and stadiums with more revenue streams from sponsorships and premium seats generate more revenue. And that revenue isn’t shared. The Cowboys’ revenue more than doubled the Bengals at $700 million last year, according to Forbes.
Fan attendance hasn’t helped the Bengals much, either. The Bengals ranked 28th in the NFL in attendance last season, averaging just 61,389 fans per game. And the Bengals tied for their most regular-season wins ever and hosted a playoff game last season.
While the Bengals don’t have many obvious options for major revenue increases anytime in the near future, their value still rose. So did other teams that are in the same boat.
The Bengals franchise is worth an estimated $1.68 billion, according to Forbes magazine's annual NFL franchise value calculations.
The Cincinnati Bengals' franchise value rose 16 percent from a year ago, according to Forbes.
Enlarge
The Cincinnati Bengals' franchise value rose 16 percent from a year ago, according to… more
That valuation rose 16 percent from a year ago. The average NFL franchise increased in value by 19 percent to $2.3 billion.
The Bengals dropped to 30th among the 32 NFL teams in value after placing 29th a year ago. Only the Detroit Lions, at $1.65 billion, and the Buffalo Bills, at $1.5 billion, are worth less than the Bengals among NFL franchises. Even the Cleveland Browns, worth $1.85 billion, top the Bengals valuation.
The Dallas Cowboys are again the most valuable NFL franchise at a whopping $4.2 billion.
Don’t weep too much for Mike Brown, though. Forbes says the Brown family paid $7 million for the franchise back in 1967. That’s not a bad return on their investment given current valuations.
The Bengals’ $329 million revenue rose 11 percent, but it ranks among the smallest the NFL. Still, Forbes estimates the Bengals generated $60 million in operating income. That climbed 8 percent from a year ago.
The team plows much of that back into the roster. Player costs rose 17 percent to $185 million, according to Forbes.
While the NFL shares much of its revenue, bigger-market teams and stadiums with more revenue streams from sponsorships and premium seats generate more revenue. And that revenue isn’t shared. The Cowboys’ revenue more than doubled the Bengals at $700 million last year, according to Forbes.
Fan attendance hasn’t helped the Bengals much, either. The Bengals ranked 28th in the NFL in attendance last season, averaging just 61,389 fans per game. And the Bengals tied for their most regular-season wins ever and hosted a playoff game last season.
While the Bengals don’t have many obvious options for major revenue increases anytime in the near future, their value still rose. So did other teams that are in the same boat.
