MLS is one of the most growing football leagues in the world. The League is barely 30 years old and is enjoying a purple patch in terms of popularity. The arrival of Lionel Messi has further added to its popularity and within a month he propelled Inter Miami to its first-ever trophy.
Today we take a look at the most valuable teams in the MLS.
10. Charlotte FC – $690 million
David Tepper, one of the 150 richest people in the world with a net worth of $14.5 billion, is the major owner of Charlotte FC. In 2013, they generated a revenue of $82 million.
They play their home games at the Bank of America Stadium which generates most of their revenue thanks to its huge capacity.
Ally Bank, which was Charlotte’s founding partner, sponsors their jersey. They have an operating income of $6 million with 1 year change of approximately +10%.
9. Toronto FC – $725 million
Toronto FC is owned by Larry Tanenbaum, Rogers Communication, and Bell Canada. Toronto is the only Canadian club in the top 10.
With a 2023 revenue of $69 million, Toronto FC remains a formidable force both on and off the field.
Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Mastercard are some of the big brands that are in partnership with the club.
They have an operating income of $12 million with a change of approximately +5%.
8. Austin FC – $750 million
Anthony Precourt and Eddie Margain are the key owners of Austin FC. Their value grew from $630 million to $750 million after the 2023 season.
According to the MLS, the jersey of star playmaker Sebastián Driussi ranks as the fourth-most purchased jersey in the league.
Moreover, Austin FC boasts the 11th-best attendance record in the MLS, despite many teams having a larger stadium than Austin FC’s Q2.
They record a year change growth of approximately 1%.
7. D.C. United – $775 million
Jason Levien and Steven Kaplan own the D.C. United. United has a rich history as one of the original MLS franchises that started playing in 1996.
They have won four MLS Cups, making it the only franchise with more than two titles along with LA Galaxy.
Their biggest-ever transfer was attracting Wayne Rooney to the club. Since then the club has taken huge strides in the MLS.
They recorded an annual revenue of $85 million last year and have an approximate growth of +11% per year.
6. Seattle Sounders FC – $785 million
Adrian Hanauer is the majority owner of Seattle Sounders FC. They made a jump from 8th to 6th in the list of most valuable MLS teams.
Their revenue rose from $66M in the 2022 season to $75M in the 2023 season.
Last season they also recorded the highest attendance in the league. They have an operating income of $2 million with revenue growth of +19%.
5. New York City FC – $850 million
New York City FC is a part of City Football Group. Along with New York FC, they own clubs like Manchester City FC, Mumbai City FC, Melbourne FC, and many more.
They play their home matches at the legendary Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
In 2023, they recorded a revenue of $70 million with approximately +6% year change. Their matchday revenue through ticket sales has grown 21% from last year.
4. Atlanta United FC – $900 million
Atlanta United FC is owned by Arthur Blank. While other MLS teams are known to bring European household names to their club.
Atlanta United seem to do things the opposite way.
They develop players from their youth academy and turn them into big names, the example of which is Miguel Almirón who was bought by Newcastle United for $27 million in 2019.
They also attract huge crowds at their Mercedes-Benz Stadium which hugely affects their revenue.
3. LA Galaxy – $950 million
LA Galaxy is owned by Philip Anschutz. The signing of David Beckham in 2007 made them on of the first MLS teams to be recognized worldwide.
They have a fierce rivalry with LAFC and during the 2019 play-off semifinal, an estimated 900,000 viewers tuned in to ESPN to watch the game.
They have an operating income of $3 million with a 1-year change of approximately +3%.
In October 2023, Galaxy announced a new partnership with Fiji’s national airline, Fiji Airways which significantly raised their revenue.
2. Inter Miami CF – $1.03 billion
Inter Miami CF is owned by Jorge Mas, Jose Mas, and David Beckham. In 2023 alone, their revenue was $118 million, thanks to the signing of Lionel Messi.
They also recorded a 1-year change of +72%. With continuously increasing ticket prices, the revenue is expected to hit $200 million for next season.
90% of last season’s ticket price holders have already renewed their tickets for this season.
This number is a small demonstration of how many fans in the United States are willing to get a glimpse of Lionel Messi.
1. Los Angeles Football Club – $1.2 billion
Los Angeles Football Club is majority-owned by Brandon Beck, Peter Guber, Larry Berg and Bennett Rosenthal.
As ticket prices are the main source of revenue for the club, LAFC earns a whopping $13 million a year for stadium-naming and jersey sponsor rights.
In a derby match against LA Galaxy at the Rose Bowl Stadium, they set a new MLS single-game attendance record when 82,110 fans attended to watch the match. They bolster a one-year revenue boost of +20%.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
