With time, sports has transcended the boundary of being limited to just entertainment. Our obsession and commitment to it have turned it into a business venture too. In the present time, we see the richest leagues on the planet generating revenues equivalent to or more than big businesses. In this article, we will talk about such top sports leagues in the world and their riches.
To begin with, a Sports league is a group of teams playing a game that come together to compete for trophies and sizeable financial rewards. Now, we have taken this concept and turned it into a multi-billion-dollar industry.
But you might think, there can be thousands of such leagues present in the world right now where passionate individuals come together to pursue a game for fun. However, even though that is surely a fact, there are certain criteria to rank a sports league. Organizations dedicate their resource and labor to figure out the numbers and assign a ranking to the leagues.
Hence, let us first understand those criteria and in turn, look at the top leagues and their achievements.
Criteria for Ranking Sports Leagues by Wealth
Even though a sports team and its assets are a personal business venture, organizations like Deloitte, Sportico, KPMG, Forbes, etc. have tried to assign value to them.
A franchise valuation plays a crucial role in the sports business industry to make careful decisions for the players, managers, and sponsors.
They arrive at a ranking for a league after considering the below points.
- Revenue: A sports team’s worth is determined by its revenue, just like any other business. It’s important to know how much money a league makes from ticket sales, sponsorships, television, and retail sales to understand a league’s wealth and overall revenue.
- Brand: The brand value of a team is crucial in determining its number in the wealth ranking. A marketable team with a loyal clan of fans and a series of historical wins is always going to generate more sponsorship and viewers, and in turn, more inflow of cash.
- Market: When a team has the economic strength to support the growth of the league, it dominates the team’s ratings. A demographic with a high purchasing power is usually going to help a league in its revenue generation.
- Infrastructure: A team has to be backed by state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities like stadiums and training equipment to not only attract enthusiastic fans but also investors. Hence, it adds to the market value of the league and ensures revenue generation.
10 Top Richest Sports Leagues In The World
Let us now see a few sports leagues dominating this rating for a long time. Apart from having a crazy legion of devoted fans, these leagues are racking in big money and are a successful business investment.
1. National Football League
The NLF is one of the world’s wealthiest and most prestigious football leagues. It is an American football organization that has 32 teams playing under its banner. The league is divided into two conferences, the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).
About
Initially known as the American Football Conference, the league structure consists of sixteen teams which are divided into four divisions: North, South, East, and West. Each team plays seventeen games, and fourteen teams qualify for the playoff.
Teams
The teams are equally divided between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC) as follows:
1. American Football Conference (AFC)
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
AFC East
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
AFC West
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
2. National Football Conference (NFC)
NFC East
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Commanders
NFC West
- Arizona Cardinals
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks
NFC North
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Revenue
The NFL generated a whooping revenue of $20 billion last season, with a major chunk of it being derived from intense media coverage and broadcasting. In fact, as per Sports Business Journal, it saw a 7% rise in its overall viewership too.
2. National Basketball Association
The NBA is considered the premier professional basketball in the world, and consists of 30 teams. It was founded on June 6, 1946, with the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL) coming together. Currently, it is not only a league that produces fine basketball but rakes in huge numbers monetarily.
About
The thirty teams play 82 games in total and are divided into two conferences known as the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, with three divisions each. However, the NBA currently is not only limited to America. It has become a global brand and followers from all over the world take a keen interest in it.
Teams
The Eastern Conference and the Western Conference of the NBA are further divided into three divisions and consist of the following teams.
1. Eastern Conference
Southeast Division
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
Central Division
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
Atlantic Division
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
2. Western Conference
Pacific Division
- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
Northwest Division
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
Southwest Division
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- San Antonio Spurs
Revenue
As per the data, the NFL players are some of the most handsomely paid players in the world. Needless to say, the league is known to generate massive revenues. If we look at last season’s turnover, the revenue generated by the NFL was approximately 10 billion dollars.
3. Major League Baseball
MLB is known for the highest level of professional football in America and Canada. It is the amalgamation of two major baseball leagues, the National League and the American League. Major Baseball League is the reason people all over the world know about Baseball and follow it regardless of their national borders.
About
It is regarded as one of the oldest professional leagues in the world and is divided into 30 teams. Major basketball league has 162 games in a season and has now transcended beyond the boundary of being just a league. It has major cultural significance all over the world.
Teams
The thirty teams under the National League and the American League for Major League Baseball are as follows.
1. American League (AL)
West Division
- Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Angels
- Oakland Athletics
- Seattle Mariners
- Texas Rangers
Central Division
- Chicago White Sox
- Cleveland Guardians
- Detroit Tigers
- Kansas City Royals
- Minnesota Twins
East Division
- Baltimore Orioles
- Boston Red Sox
- New York Yankees
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Toronto Blue Jays
2. National League (NL)
East Division
- Atlanta Braves
- Miami Marlins
- New York Mets
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Washington Nationals
Central Division
- Chicago Cubs
- Cincinnati Reds
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- St. Louis Cardinals
West Division
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Colorado Rockies
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- San Diego Padres
- San Francisco Giants
Revenue
The league rose by 10% in 2023, to an average of $378 million per team, and is currently valued at $19 million.
4. Indian Premier League
Making a surprise entry in this list of traditional leagues is the IPL or the Indian Premier League, established in the year 2007. Not only did the IPL make cricket a household name, but it also established itself as one of the richest leagues on the planet.
About
The Indian Premier League or the Tata IPL is a cricket tournament held annually in India. It is the most popular cricket league in the world, where teams representing various states of India compete for the trophy. But the interesting thing about IPL is it is not only limited to Indian players, international players are auctioned and are appointed by the teams too.
Teams
The present team tally of the Indian Premier League is as follows:
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Rajasthan Royals (RR)
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Gujarat Titans (GT)
Revenue
The Indian Premier League has a business valuation of $16.4 billion. However, as per records, it generated a revenue of $10.9 billion in December 2022.
5. English Premier League
The English Premier League is a true example of sports transcending boundaries. The EPL is the top-level league of the England football scene and is internationally watched, cherished, and followed. It is the most popular football league in the world, with the best players of the generation competing for trophies.
About
The EPL was established in the year 1992 and 20 prestigious teams currently represent the league. It operates on a promotion and relegation basis. Per the points tally, the teams are either promoted for the next season or relegated to the second-tier leagues.
Teams
The English Premier League includes the following teams.
- Arsenal
- Aston Villa
- Bournemouth
- Brentford
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Chelsea
- Crystal Palace
- Everton
- Fulham
- Ipswich Town
- Leicester City
- Liverpool
- Luton Town
- Manchester City
- Manchester United
- Newcastle United
- Southampton
- Tottenham Hotspur
- West Ham United
- Wolverhampton Wanderers
Revenue
With huge international audiences following this league religiously, the revenue numbers are huge and keep on rising every season. However, as per Deloitte, the Premier League’s revenue passed £6 billion for the 2022-23 season.
6. National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is a group of professional ice hockey teams playing in North America. It is considered the top-ranked Professional ice hockey league in the world and is the oldest in North America.
About
The league consists of 32 teams, with 25 teams from the United States and 7 from Canada. It was founded in the year 1917 in Canada, and in 1924 the Boston Bruins became the first American club to join this league. The teams in the league compete for the Stanley Cup, the oldest trophy cup in America.
Teams
The league is a perfect symphony of teams from Canada and America and is divided into two conferences, which are further divided into two divisions.
1. Eastern Conference
Metropolitan Division
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- New Jersey Devils
- New York Islanders
- New York Rangers
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Washington Capitals
Atlantic Division
- Boston Bruins
- Buffalo Sabres
- Detroit Red Wings
- Florida Panthers
- Montreal Canadiens
- Ottawa Senators
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Toronto Maple Leafs
2. Western Conference
Central Division
- Arizona Coyotes
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Colorado Avalanche
- Dallas Stars
- Minnesota Wild
- Nashville Predators
- St. Louis Blues
- Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
- Anaheim Ducks
- Calgary Flames
- Edmonton Oilers
- Los Angeles Kings
- San Jose Sharks
- Seattle Kraken
- Vancouver Canucks
- Vegas Golden Knights
Revenue
The NHL is not only known for competing for one of the most prestigious cups in hockey but also for generating a large amount of cash. As per the Sports Business Journal, the NHL is set to generate a revenue of $6.2 billion annually.
7. La Liga Santander
Headquartered in Madrid, it is a private league that is composed of 20 clubs and public limited sports companies. It is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in Spain, which is cherished internationally.
About
Founded in the year 1929, it is sponsored by the Santander Bank. La Liga is the home of some of the greatest teams known to football and plays 38 matches in a season (19 home and 19 away). Not only is the La Liga broadcast enjoyed worldwide but the winning teams also get to participate in European championships like the UEFA Champions League.
Teams
La Liga is known to be the home of some magnificent teams in the history of football, which are as follows.
- FC Barcelona
- Real Madrid
- Deportivo Alavés
- Atlético Madrid
- Valencia CF
- Sevilla FC
- Villarreal CF
- Real Sociedad
- Athletic Club
- Real Betis
- Espanyol
- Getafe CF
- Real Valladolid
- UD Las Palmas
- Girona FC
- Mallorca
- Rayo Vallecano
- CA Osasuna
- RC Celta
- CD Leganés
Revenue
La Liga’s presence increases with every passing season, both nationally and internationally. It raked in an income of €4,889.6M in the last season, which is expected to grow more in the coming ones.
8. Germany’s Bundesliga
It is the topmost tournament in Germany’s football system and is followed globally. The Bundesliga also follows the system of promotion and relegation, where the bottom teams are relegated to the second division.
About
Founded in the year 1963, it is known throughout the world for its fine level of competitive football and is currently made up of 18 teams playing 34 matches (17 home and 17 away). Bundesliga is also famous for its loyal fans, and it tops the list when it comes to average attendance in a tournament worldwide.
Teams
The elite teams that make this prestigious league are as follows
- FC Bayern Munich
- Borussia Dortmund
- RB Leipzig
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Borussia Mönchengladbach
- VfL Wolfsburg
- Eintracht Frankfurt
- Union Berlin
- FC Augsburg
- Mainz 05
- VfB Stuttgart
- SC Freiburg
- FC St. Pauli
- TSG Hoffenheim
- FC Heidenheim 1846
- VfL Bochum
- Holstein Kiel
- SV Werder Bremen
Revenue
Bundesliga takes a spot on this list because, in the last season, it generated a hefty revenue of over €5 billion ($5.4 billion).
9. UEFA Champions League
The prestigious club competition in European football, UEFA, or the UCL is cherished by fans all over the world. It is the most popular football club competition in the world and ranks in the likes of the FIFA World Cup.
About
Formerly known as the European Champion Clubs’ Cup was founded in Vienna in 1955 and is the home to some elite teams and players who are internationally recognized champions. The tournament consists of 32 teams, divided into eight groups of four teams each. The teams play six matches (three home and three away) and are crowned as the champions of Europe.
Teams
The UEFA has a list of strong teams known for winning domestic competitions and having talented players of international caliber. The 32 teams participating in the UEFA Champions League are as follows.
- FC Barcelona (Spain)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Atlético Madrid (Spain)
- Sevilla FC (Spain)
- FC Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- RB Leipzig (Germany)
- Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) (France)
- Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon) (France)
- Juventus FC (Italy)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
- AC Milan (Italy)
- Manchester City (England)
- Manchester United (England)
- Liverpool FC (England)
- Chelsea FC (England)
- Arsenal FC (England)
- Tottenham Hotspur (England)
- Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
- FC Porto (Portugal)
- SL Benfica (Portugal)
- FC Zenit Saint Petersburg (Russia)
- Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
- Galatasaray (Turkey)
- Fenerbahçe (Turkey)
- RB Salzburg (Austria)
- Red Bull Leipzig (Austria)
- Club Brugge (Belgium)
- Anderlecht (Belgium)
- Ferencvárosi TC (Hungary)
- Malmö FF (Sweden)
Revenue
You must have guessed already that quality football like this not only attracts global viewership but revenue that is always skyrocketing. In 2022/23, the league’s revenue amounted to €3.2 billion.
10. Russian Premier League
The Russian Premier League is the top most football tournament in Russia and is the epitome of quality football. It was initially called the Russian Football Premier League and has now gained popularity not only nationally but globally too.
About
It was founded in the year 2001 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It consists of 16 teams and each team plays a total of 30 matches per season. However, the national team is currently barred from any international competition and participating in the UEFA Conference League due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Teams
The RPL is known for some world-class players football has ever seen and is comprised of the below teams.
- FC Zenit Saint Petersburg
- CSKA Moscow
- Spartak Moscow
- Lokomotiv Moscow
- FC Krasnodar
- FC Rostov
- FC Rubin Kazan
- FC Ural Yekaterinburg
- Akhmat Grozny (formerly Terek Grozny)
- FC Dynamo Moscow
- Arsenal Tula
- FC Sochi
- FC Ufa
- PFC Krylia Sovetov Samara
- FC Tambov
- FC Nizhny Novgorod
Revenue
The revenue generated by the league varies since it is majorly dependent on various factors like broadcasting, and sponsorship. However, to give you an idea, the league is supposed to be valued at €813 million as per Yahoo Finance.
Conclusion
It won’t be incorrect to say that sports is synonymous with human existence.
There is no different identity when it comes to sports. Everyone is united under their favorite team and wishes for its glory and success.
This growing leadership and culture has also resulted in the leaks, becoming more financially secure and surpassing big businesses every passing day.
It is great to see that sports cannot only unite people together but also act as one of the greatest boosters in a nation’s economy.
People are also reading:
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which sports league generates the highest revenue globally?
National Football League (NFL) in the United States generates the highest revenue globally. It is mainly because of its corporate sponsorships, broadcasting rights, and an undying global appeal of the greatest players in football.
2. How do TV rights contribute to a league’s financial success?
TV rights ensure a smooth inflow of revenue through broadcasting agreements, which enables growth and brings in global viewership, and in turn, sponsorships.
3. What are the key revenue streams for major sports leagues?
There are multiple key revenue streams for major sports leagues. These include digital and streaming rights, ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, etc.
4. What challenges do sports leagues face in maintaining financial stability?
With a demanding field such as sports, the leagues face a lot of challenges in maintaining financial stability which include the non-negotiables, like player’s salaries, operational costs, high dependency on TV rights, and highly fluctuating consumer behavior.
5. Which sports league has seen the highest growth in revenue in recent years?
The English Premier League (EPL) has seen the highest growth in revenue in recent years.
