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(Reuters) - English soccer club Manchester United retained their title as the world's most valuable sports team, according to an annual top 50 list released by Forbes on Monday that was dominated by National Football League (NFL) franchises.

The 19-times English champions, who are preparing for a listing on the New York Stock Exchange, were valued at $2.23 billion, up from $1.86 billion last year and 19 percent above No. 2 Real Madrid ($1.88 billion).

All 32 NFL franchises made the top 50 list with the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, New England Patriots and Super Bowl champion New York Giants all securing spots in the top 10.

The only teams in the top 10 that do not play soccer or American football were Major League Baseball's New York Yankees, who were tied at third with the Cowboys, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were tied with the Patriots at No. 6.

The top 50 list included seven soccer teams, with Arsenal falling three places to 10th overall and Barcelona rising 18 spots to eighth.

Ferrari was the top motor racing team, listed at 15th, while the New York Knicks, in 43rd place, were the lone National Basketball Association franchise to make the list.

Forbes Top 10 teams:

1. Manchester United (soccer) - $2.23 billion

2. Real Madrid (soccer) - $1.88 billion

3. New York Yankees (MLB) - $1.85 billion

3. Dallas Cowboys (NFL) - $1.85 billion

5. Washington Redskins (NFL) - $1.56 billion

6. Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) - $1.40 billion

6. New England Patriots (NFL) - $1.40 billion

8. Barcelona (soccer) - $1.31 billion

9. New York Giants (NFL) - $1.30 billion

10. Arsenal (soccer) - $1.29 billion

Going to be offered on the NYSE eh? I can buy a share and go around and claim I own a soccer team!

How in hell did the Redskins make this list?

Manchester United may be top, but as a supporter of one of their rivals, they are scum!! I wouldn't even wipe my boots on them!

Back OT, I'm slightly surprised that Real Madrid or Barcelona haven't taken the top spot, given how the Hispanic population in North America is growing.

The problem is that the vast majority of Manchester United's wealth goes straight back to paying the interest on the various loans that banks and what not lent them in order to buy the club in the first place. That is not a stable business model in anyone's eyes.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
For those who care, there is a very good article on it here:

http://www.football365.com/f365-says/7908276/F365-Says

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:Manchester United may be top, but as a supporter of one of their rivals, they are scum!! I wouldn't even wipe my boots on them!

Back OT, I'm slightly surprised that Real Madrid or Barcelona haven't taken the top spot, given how the Hispanic population in North America is growing.

Man U market themselves really well abroad...
Ever notice how practically every follower of English football outside of the UK supports Man U?

Aerethan wrote:How in hell did the Redskins make this list?

they are a team who saves money instead of investing it in players who don't suck

they are a team who saves money instead of investing it in players who don't suck

Thats one fat saving account....what bank?

If I had the money for it, I'd buy out the NFL. Every team, every anything to do with it. Then I'd shut it all down. And then I'd keep all the rights to it and never allow it to be played in my lifetime again.

It would cost billions. And it would all be worth it.

I'd also have to move to a country that could give a rats ass about American football.

Ooh, even better idea! Buyout the NFL and actually make it a proper football league. Soccer as we call it here for some reason. I think that would piss off people more than just discontinuing football. Yeah, let's go with that.

Aerethan wrote:If I had the money for it, I'd buy out the NFL. Every team, every anything to do with it. Then I'd shut it all down. And then I'd keep all the rights to it and never allow it to be played in my lifetime again.

It would cost billions. And it would all be worth it.

I'd also have to move to a country that could give a rats ass about American football.

Ooh, even better idea! Buyout the NFL and actually make it a proper football league. Soccer as we call it here for some reason. I think that would piss off people more than just discontinuing football. Yeah, let's go with that.

That the one of the most hilarious ideas ever...

filbert wrote:The problem is that the vast majority of Manchester United's wealth goes straight back to paying the interest on the various loans that banks and what not lent them in order to buy the club in the first place. That is not a stable business model in anyone's eyes.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
For those who care, there is a very good article on it here:

http://www.football365.com/f365-says/7908276/F365-Says

The Man United buyout should have been blocked by the government at the time, it stank because the debt was offset onto the club. The Glazers bought Man U with the clubs own money.

Aerethan wrote:How in hell did the Redskins make this list?

Very Rich Owner with a very rich and loyal fan base (despite how terrible they are).

Their merchandise sales are in the top 5 in the NFL and their TV market is HUGE, DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and if games don't conflict with other teams on Fox casting they also get broadcaster in Jersey, Southern Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

They are one of the largest markets in the NFL.

They would be even larger if their lawsuit worked many years ago.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Aerethan wrote:If I had the money for it, I'd buy out the NFL. Every team, every anything to do with it. Then I'd shut it all down. And then I'd keep all the rights to it and never allow it to be played in my lifetime again.

Even if you had the money, say even 10 times the value of every team you could not do this.

An NFL owner is not allowed to own more than one NFL team.

In addition an NFL Team owner can only own another team in another sport if that team is in the same market or is a city without an NFL team.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

DIDM wrote:

Aerethan wrote:How in hell did the Redskins make this list?

they are a team who saves money instead of investing it in players who don't suck

Actually the opposite is true.

Red Skins are notorious for signing big name players who flop for a large amount of cash.

Albert Hayneswort 2009 contract worth 100 million for 7 years (had a monster 2008 season and has sucked since he got his payday).

Jeremiah Trotter 7 year contract for 36 million. He did nothing.

Jeff George 4 years 18 million. He trows worse than Tebow. It is possible.

Antwaan Randle El 31 millionfor 7 years. complete bust.

Deion Sanders received a 7 year 56 million dollar contract at the age of 33. He lasted 1 season with the 'Skins. Red Skins fans are still wondering why.

Adam Archuleta (don't know who he is? it's ok no one else does). Dan Snyder made this guy the highest paid Saefty in the NFL 35 million 7 year contract.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

purplefood wrote:

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:Manchester United may be top, but as a supporter of one of their rivals, they are scum!! I wouldn't even wipe my boots on them!

Back OT, I'm slightly surprised that Real Madrid or Barcelona haven't taken the top spot, given how the Hispanic population in North America is growing.

Man U market themselves really well abroad...
Ever notice how practically every follower of English football outside of the UK supports Man U?

Fut Bol fans in America are far and few between, but when I come across them 9 out of 10 times the are a Manchester United fan.

Every now and then I hear someone say Liverpool, but with an ashamed tone of voice.

Do not pay attention to Fut Bol, but I get the feeling that Liverpool is like the Cleveland Browns of Fut Bol.

Even if you had the money, say even 10 times the value of every team you could not do this.

An NFL owner is not allowed to own more than one NFL team.

In addition an NFL Team owner can only own another team in another sport if that team is in the same market or is a city without an NFL team.

Fair enough. I'll donate enough money to 31 of my closest football hating friends to each buy a team. I mean if I have the money to pull it off, I'll find a way.

Did football touch you inappropriately when you were younger? There is a large amount of irrational hate emanating from you over what is just one of a plethora of entertainment options.

purplefood wrote:

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:Manchester United may be top, but as a supporter of one of their rivals, they are scum!! I wouldn't even wipe my boots on them!

Back OT, I'm slightly surprised that Real Madrid or Barcelona haven't taken the top spot, given how the Hispanic population in North America is growing.

Man U market themselves really well abroad...
Ever notice how practically every follower of English football outside of the UK supports Man U?

Could it also be that they are very good?

GG

Ahtman wrote:Did football touch you inappropriately when you were younger? There is a large amount of irrational hate emanating from you over what is just one of a plethora of entertainment options.

Honestly it isn't the game itself that I "hate". I dislike watching the game as it drags on forever. 4 fifteen minute quarters is somehow stretched to 2 and half hours. It's madness.

But that aside, it is the average football fan that I "hate". But then I generally disapprove of spectating sports, at least on TV. A live game is one thing. You get an experience there. Warm beer, overpriced hot dogs and all that.

People screaming at a tv screen for anything short of winning the lottery is just stupid.

I enjoy the odd video of some amazing play here and there, but those can be seen in the 30 minute SportsCenter following any game.

The only time I have ever really enjoyed watching a sport on tv is when it's neck and neck in the last few minutes. That I like. And in that case, I root for whichever team is in the color I hate less.

I also don't understand this philosophy of paying people millions of dollars just to play a game. Where the hell is my WFB Major League?

Watching a sport being played is fruitless. Playing a sport is so much more rewarding, both emotionally and physically(assuming no major injuries).

Why not just simply support MLS if you hate football so much and want to replace it with soccer?

d-usa wrote:Why not just simply support MLS if you hate football so much and want to replace it with soccer?

Soccer fans may not be much better than NFL fans. The reason to switch would be to piss off NFL fans. Once my American Soccer League fans got just as bad I'd switch the leage to Jai alai . Let's see how many Pop Warner leagues start up for that sport. That'll teach them.


Yes, I'm generally that spiteful.

purplefood wrote:
Man U market themselves really well abroad...
Ever notice how practically every follower of English football outside of the UK supports Man U?

I grew attached to Newcastle myself, I had an ex that lives there.

Inquisitor Lord Bane wrote:

purplefood wrote:
Man U market themselves really well abroad...
Ever notice how practically every follower of English football outside of the UK supports Man U?

I grew attached to Newcastle myself, I had an ex that lives there.

Good man, life long fan here. Alan Shearer was my favourite player when little so supported NUFC. I take it then that American Football is the most popular sport over there then. Was surprised a little not to see more variety of sports. That is probably just me being naive though.

Aerethan wrote:

Even if you had the money, say even 10 times the value of every team you could not do this.

An NFL owner is not allowed to own more than one NFL team.

In addition an NFL Team owner can only own another team in another sport if that team is in the same market or is a city without an NFL team.

Fair enough. I'll donate enough money to 31 of my closest football hating friends to each buy a team. I mean if I have the money to pull it off, I'll find a way.

Still couldn't do that.

Every purchase of an NFL team must be approved by other current NFL owners.

Even if in the odd chance you could get approval from all the NFL teams, you couldn't just "shut them down".

If you didn't want to take operations into your own hands what would happen is that the league would take soul control of all 32 teams and eventually find a suitable owner for re-sale.

So basically they don't let people in if they don't like them?
That seems like an odd system...

purplefood wrote:So basically they don't let people in if they don't like them?
That seems like an odd system...

It is a pretty exclusive club, and they factor a lot of things into the decision making process, such as economic feasibility and such. It isn't always money though. Rush Limbaugh was dropped by a group of investors trying to buy the Rams because they knew the NFL wouldn't want him owning any part of any team.

Ahtman wrote:

purplefood wrote:So basically they don't let people in if they don't like them?
That seems like an odd system...

It is a pretty exclusive club, and they factor a lot of things into the decision making process, such as economic feasibility and such. It isn't always money though. Rush Limbaugh was dropped by a group of investors trying to buy the Rams because they knew the NFL wouldn't want him owning any part of any team.

That seems a bit... unfair almost?
You could have a small group of people that could just control the entire sport...

purplefood wrote:That seems a bit... unfair almost?

Why is it supposed to be fair? This isn't a government agency or a necessity of existence, it is a private entertainment business. Except for the Green Bay Packers, but they're just weird, what with the cheese heads and all.

purplefood wrote:You could have a small group of people that could just control the entire sport...

That is what they do, to some extent, as anyone is free to play the sport or to try and start their own league. They only thing they control is the NFL. There is always college ball as well.

So they essentially have a monopoly on football?
I mean could someone realistically start up a separate league?

purplefood wrote:So they essentially have a monopoly on football?
I mean could someone realistically start up a separate league?

You can start your own league, but realistically, the odds of success are not good, just look at the XFL. I'm not sure monopoly is quite the right word. They have control over their own league, to be sure, and do what they can to avoid over-expansion, but it is still many different groups competing at the same time for fans. Of course other times they work as one entity as well. Certainly it has been argued that they are a monopoly, and I don't dispute that the argument could be made convincingly, but I'm not 100% sure that it is quite accurate. It is some sort of psuedo-monopoly?

Ahtman wrote:So basically they don't let people in if they don't like them?
That seems like an odd system...

I wouldn't call it a exclusive. Owners want to make sure you have the best interest of the entire league.

The NFL with it's league revenue sharing can be a lot like baseball where a few teams are major money makers and there are some teams in it to just do nothing and rack in cash for the revenue sharing for doing nothing like the Jags have been doing.

Luckily their is now a "floor" in the cap where an NFL player must spend 90 percent of what the total cap is.

There have been competitors to the NFL

the AAFL back in the 30s which crapped out and several teams were accepted to join the NFL

the AFL which merged with the NFL

The USFL crapped out

World Football League which crapped out

the XFL which crapped out

There is the Arena football league which is a downsized version of regular football and almost no running and it's all indoors. But this is not seen as a competitor to the NFL.

Then there is the United Football League which is smaller than the Arena Football League and have most of their games broadcasting via the internet.

Most leagues have died because they play after the NFL's regular season which is baseball time and not much interest for spring football. the AFL were the only true competition for the NFL and pretty much changed the landscape of the NFL at the time.

the only other options outside of the NFL is college football, which is season as more corrupt than the NFL, and I would have to agree. Or you could go north of the boarder and watch Canadian Football which is fun with quite a few rules difference.

Fine. I'll spend my billions of dollars to pass legislation outlawing the broadcast of football over television and radio.

Since, you know, with enough money any law can be made manifest here in the US.

Aerethan wrote:

Even if you had the money, say even 10 times the value of every team you could not do this.

An NFL owner is not allowed to own more than one NFL team.

In addition an NFL Team owner can only own another team in another sport if that team is in the same market or is a city without an NFL team.

Fair enough. I'll donate enough money to 31 of my closest football hating friends to each buy a team. I mean if I have the money to pull it off, I'll find a way.

While I must admit that I don't care that much for football as well. Why the hate for it? Yeah its different that soccer, and its a more 'Muerica sport, so what? Also it is a widely known fact that Hockey is the greatest sport EVAR!

Makarov wrote:

Aerethan wrote:

Even if you had the money, say even 10 times the value of every team you could not do this.

An NFL owner is not allowed to own more than one NFL team.

In addition an NFL Team owner can only own another team in another sport if that team is in the same market or is a city without an NFL team.

Fair enough. I'll donate enough money to 31 of my closest football hating friends to each buy a team. I mean if I have the money to pull it off, I'll find a way.

While I must admit that I don't care that much for football as well. Why the hate for it? Yeah its different that soccer, and its a more 'Muerica sport, so what? Also it is a widely known fact that Hockey is the greatest sport EVAR!

This man.
He is smart.