New Forbes report rank TFC 3rd most valuable in MLS

[Yohan]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2017/08/16/major-league-soccers-most-valuable-teams-2/#6133e5b0b815

[MightyDM]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2017/08/16/major-league-soccers-most-valuable-teams-2/#6133e5b0b815


Expansion fees like that are why we will not see promotion relegation, unless somehow it is within MLS with a two or three division structure. Never ever. which is really too bad.

[Gazza_55]

Expansion fees like that are why we will not see promotion relegation, unless somehow it is within MLS with a two or three division structure. Never ever. which is really too bad.

I disagree. Expansion fees are being paid to get a cut of the MLS revenue the league has buil and as a test to see which owners are committed.

We will have pro/rel attempted just without MLS involved. Silva and a few other NASL owners (NY Cosmos, San Diego, Detroit - when they join NASL) will get a group together and try and meet D1 standards and then introduce pro/rel with the NISA or another league. Not sure if it will work but they have a chance if they can sustain billion dollar loses in the first decade.

[Oldtimer]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2017/08/16/major-league-soccers-most-valuable-teams-2/#6133e5b0b815


And current MLS owners are so bullish on the league’s growth that they recently bought out Providence Equity Partners’ stake in Soccer United Marketing, the company that handles marketing for MLS as well as the United States and Mexican national teams. Providence bought a 25% stake of SUM in 2012 for $150 million, valuing the property at $600 million. The recent sale of Providence’s remaining 20% stake – its holding had been diluted by the league’s expansion – was for a little over $400 million, valuing SUM at more than $2 billion, or a nearly 250% increase over the last five years.

SUM worth over $2 billion? Leaves no doubt where the real money is.

(Providence did really well on their investment. 250% in five years!)

[105]

Forbes is a good starting point. Most teams sell above Forbes' valuations, especially lately. A sports franchise is a billionaires toy and they are willing to overpay for their toys.

[Oldtimer]

I disagree. Expansion fees are being paid to get a cut of the MLS revenue the league has buil and as a test to see which owners are committed.

We will have pro/rel attempted just without MLS involved. Silva and a few other NASL owners (NY Cosmos, San Diego, Detroit - when they join NASL) will get a group together and try and meet D1 standards and then introduce pro/rel with the NISA or another league. Not sure if it will work but they have a chance if they can sustain billion dollar loses in the first decade.

When this sort of thing (competing with a dominant league) was tried in recent decades it has failed. Look at the WHL in hockey or the CFL expansion to the US.

These days broadcast rights are key and teams cost a lot of money. The only cases where there were competing leagues (baseball and gridiron) they were established and already shared the limelight when their sports were very small money, before broadcasting was important, and players all had part time jobs. Once the money flowed in the leagues in those sports merged into a single league.

The new NASL had a chance when MLS was small if they had kept Vancouver, Montreal, and Seattle, when MLS was small, and before there were a lot of DPs. At this point they are delusional and will just lose money.

The NASL should have been content with D2 instead of challenging MLS. The USL has a good business model of cooperation. The CPL had best learn from this, as well.

[molenshtain]

Being that LA's biggest sponsor for the past decade is a Ponzi scheme I always wonder what the particulars of their deal is. I bet we actually get significantly more cash coming in off our sponsorship deal than they do. Not sure how Forbes got their info. Seems kind of like bullshit.

[Kaz]

I disagree. Expansion fees are being paid to get a cut of the MLS revenue the league has buil and as a test to see which owners are committed.

We will have pro/rel attempted just without MLS involved. Silva and a few other NASL owners (NY Cosmos, San Diego, Detroit - when they join NASL) will get a group together and try and meet D1 standards and then introduce pro/rel with the NISA or another league. Not sure if it will work but they have a chance if they can sustain billion dollar loses in the first decade.

I really don't think North American fan understand Pro/Reg.

You can't do it top down. It is a bottom up thing. Anyone can build a football club in the UK and build it up and bring it into the Football League system. Wimbledon being an example of that. While also being able to buy teams in higher levels already. That is the system EVERY sport in the UK and much of Europe uses. Including Hockey.

In a franchise system like North America Pro/Reg is difficult because 1... North America has used the farm team system either from lower franchise leagues, the collegiate level or both. Just like Pro/Reg being part of the norm in Europe the Franchise system is the Norm in North America (Canada/US) When the every day fan hears of Pro/Reg they see the person talking about it as a Eurosnob and it hurts the spread of the sport as there is still the view in some places the Soccer is for Eurosnobs and Hipsters.


The MLS teams are now worth more than CFL teams, and pull in more revenue than most of them. I think it might be time to start comparing MLS to other sports when it comes to everything.

[OgtheDim]

...Anyone can build a football club in the UK and build it up and bring it into the Football League system...

As long as you have the Sugar Daddie with the approprate amount of money they are willing to lose each year for the level they want to be at. Its gotten to the point where you can't be successful at Conference North or South level without some sort of benefactor.

The ProRelforUSA folks think revenue = enough to break even for the league level you are at.

[Kaz]

As long as you have the Sugar Daddie with the approprate amount of money they are willing to lose each year for the level they want to be at. Its gotten to the point where you can't be successful at Conference North or South level without some sort of benefactor.

The ProRelforUSA folks think revenue = enough to break even for the league level you are at.

AFC Wimbledon seems to be doing fairly well. Formed in 2002 promoted into the Football League in 2011 and playing in League One now. It seems they are pushing to get to the Championship. The issue that is forgotten is you need someplace for the bottom teams to go otherwise. The Franchise system in a Salary Cap System works a) just fine b) is understood by the general population c) provides for more entertainment.

If you are a middle table team in Pro/Reg league you aren't playing for anything.


But that is a whole other issue for another thread that already exists with a dead horse beaten to a fine mist.

[OgtheDim]

Wimbledon is the only outlier among hundreds of clubs that are nonleauge; and they have had sponsorship and benefactors since they launched at a league level.

It is a completely different mindset then what North American sports does.

[sn0re]

Wimbledon is the only outlier among hundreds of clubs that are nonleauge; and they have had sponsorship and benefactors since they launched at a league level.

It is a completely different mindset then what North American sports does.

We need a John Green to endorse us!

[TFC07]

Just imagine if Canadian dollar was equal to US dollar? TFC revenue will be a lot higher.

Besides, it's crazy to think MLSE paid only $10 million to join MLS and now their club is worth close to $300 million!