Braves’ value up $125 million since last year, Forbes figures
The Braves are worth $125 million more than a year ago, according to new valuations of MLB franchises by Forbes.
The publication's 21st annual study, released Wednesday, valued the Braves at $1.625 billion, up 8 percent from $1.5 billion last year.
Forbes described the Braves’ first season in SunTrust Park as “an unqualified success off the field with … revenue jumping into the top 10 in MLB.”
Team owner Liberty Media recently disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that the Braves had revenue of $386 million last year, up from $262 million in 2016.
The $1.625 billion valuation, if accurate, means the Braves are worth more than 3-1/2 times as much as when Liberty Media acquired the franchise in a complicated tax-driven transaction in 2007. That deal valued the Braves at $450 million.
The Yankees are the most valuable MLB franchise for the 21st consecutive year, now said by Forbes’ study to be worth $4 billion. The next most valuable teams this year are the Dodgers at $3 billion, the Cubs at $2.9 billion, the Giants at $2.85 billion and the Red Sox at $2.8 billion. The Braves rank 12th among MLB teams.
On average, the 30 teams increased 7 percent in value from last year’s study.
About the Author
Tim Tucker, a long-time AJC sports reporter, often writes about the business side of the games. He also had stints as the AJC's Braves beat writer, UGA beat writer, sports notes columnist and executive sports editor. He was deputy managing editor of America's first all-sports newspaper, The National Sports Daily.
