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Forbes’ new list of the world’s 50 most valuable sports teams reads like a victory lap for American free enterprise, with franchise prices hitting record highs and the Dallas Cowboys once again sitting at the summit with a $13 billion valuation. The roundup shows the top 50 now collectively worth roughly $353 billion, a staggering figure that proves fans and investors still put their money where results and branding matter.
That the Cowboys remain No. 1 is no surprise to anyone who pays attention to savvy ownership and showmanship; Jerry Jones turned a regional football team into a global entertainment brand through bold deals and relentless marketing. This is capitalism at work — risk-taking, innovation, and the reward that comes from building something people want to buy into and watch year after year.
The NFL’s dominance on the list is striking: 30 of its 32 teams made the top 50, underscoring that America’s game is also America’s most valuable business franchise. That kind of concentration is a testament to consistent demand, lucrative broadcast arrangements, and the league’s ability to monetize fandom across every market.
A major engine behind these valuations is media rights and smart private negotiation; leagues and team owners locked in massive TV and streaming deals that pour billions into franchise coffers. When the market rewards pro-level product and broad distribution, the value follows — and American owners who play the media game well are cashing in accordingly.
It’s also worth noting how the market values different sports: only a handful of soccer clubs and just a handful of baseball teams crack the top ranks, while the top WNBA club sits far down the list — the market speaks plainly about where dollars, attention, and commercial opportunity flow. Conservatives should celebrate that merit and consumer choice, not manufactured equality, determine where capital goes in a free market.
Still, these sky-high numbers come with responsibilities. Owners who want to keep the gravy train rolling should focus on winning on the field or court, delivering great experiences to fans, and avoiding distractions that alienate paying customers; the marketplace is unforgiving and will reward performance, not posturing.
This is a proud moment for American entrepreneurship: private investment, smart branding, and competitive spirit turned teams into global businesses. If we want more of this success, policymakers should resist the urge to overtax, overregulate, or subsidize winners into complacency and instead protect the free markets that made these valuations possible.
