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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Dallas Cowboys not only are the NFL's most valuable franchise for the 11th straight year, they are the top-valued team in the world.
According to Forbes magazine, the Cowboys' worth increased 14 percent in the last year, reaching $4.8 billion. That's more than $1 billion ahead of the New England Patriots ($3.7 billion).
The Indianapolis Colts are ranked 20th on the list with a worth of $2.375 billion, up 9 percent from a year ago. Forbes said the Colts have annual revenue of $360 million and operating income of $78 million.
Rounding out the NFL's top five are the New York Giants ($3.3 billion), Washington Redskins ($3.1 billion) and San Francisco 49ers ($3.05 billion).
On average, an NFL franchise is worth $2.52 billion, an increase of 8 percent since 2016. Much of that can be attributed to rights fees and new stadiums or stadium renovations.
Every team is worth at least a billion, with the Buffalo Bills last at $1.6 billion. Forbes reported earlier this year that the average baseball franchise is worth $1.54 billion.
The Atlanta Falcons had the highest increase in value, up 16 percent to more than $2.47 billion. The team just moved into a $1.5 billion stadium in Atlanta.
Globally, according to Forbes, the Cowboys are followed by baseball's New York Yankees at $3.7 billion, a figure the Patriots have now tied. Next in those rankings are three European soccer giants: Manchester United at $3.69 billion, FC Barcelona at $3.64 billion and Real Madrid at $3.58 billion.
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