Forbes ranks Steelers 30th most-valued sports franchise in the world

When it comes to sports team ownership, it pays to be tapped into the NFL.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Dallas Cowboys are estimated as the world’s most valuable sports franchise, worth $5 billion, and 26 of the NFL’s 32 teams are among the Top 50 valued franchises, according to a study released by Forbes on Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, with a $2.585 billion valuation, are ranked No. 30, a spot behind a division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, who are valued at $2.59 billion.

The value of the Steelers, who are stewarded by the Rooney family, increased 5% from the 2018 rankings, and Forbes pegged the team’s operating income at $85 million.

Trailing the Cowboys in top value are the New York Yankees ($4.6 billion), Real Madrid soccer team ($4.24 billion), Barcelona soccer team ($4.02 billion) and the NBA’s New York Knicks ($4 billion).

The world's most valuable sports franchises per @Forbes:

1. Cowboys $5B
2. Yankees $4.6B
3. Real Madrid $4.2B
4. Barcelona $4.02B
5. Knicks $4Bhttps://t.co/PUD0ClB3vs pic.twitter.com/uWMbfklWcP

— Kurt Badenhausen (@kbadenhausen) July 22, 2019

The Yankees are among nine MLB teams listed in the Top 50. The Knicks are one of nine NBA franchises ranked. The other eight are soccer clubs.

Thanks in part to national television contracts, the value of owning a sports franchise has skyrocketed this decade. In 2012, Manchester United was the only sports franchise valued at $2 billion. This year, 52 teams are worth that much. The No. 50 franchise on the list, the New Orleans Saints, is valued at $2.08 billion.