Forbes released its annual valuation of NHL teams and once again the Leafs are at the top with a price tag of $448 million (all values in $US). That is a 9% increase over the previous year. This just the value of the hockey team and does not include the Air Canada Centre, the Marlies, the Raptors, Toronto FC, Leaf TV and Raptor TV. Second to the Leafs are the Rangers valued at $411 million. At the bottom of the list is the Phoenix Coyotes valued at just $142 million.
- The Leafs were also #1 in revenue with $160 million.
- Although only 3 Canadian teams are in the top ten in value, they are the most profitable. All 6 Canadian teams are in the top ten in operating profit and collectively the earned a $150 million. Meanwhile the 24 U.S. team lost $10 million last season.
- All of the assets of MLSE are valued at around $1.5 billion.
- A Forbes representative remarked on radio that although the Leafs are valued at $448 million, if they were to ever go on the open market, the bidding would probably push the sale price well above that.
- The NHL average is $220 million.
- The Canadian dollar rose by 15% last season which pushed up the value of all the Canadian teams. Only the Leafs didn't experience an increase in value of at least 10%.
- NHL teams are valued at approximately 2.4 times their revenue. Therefore, the Leafs' value is lower because they don't earn any playoff revenue. A successful playoff run could add as much as $100 million to their value.
- The salary cap has made teams like the Leafs, Rangers, Flyers and Red Wings wealthier. The cap reduces a significant team expense but has no impact on revenue. How many of these teams would be spending close in $100 million on salaries by now. The year before the lockout the Leafs' payroll was $70 million and had gone up by $35 million in the 4 years prior to the lockout.
- The salary floor has made the weaker teams less profitable. Teams like Phoenix, the Islanders, Columbus, Atlanta and Nashville must spend at least $40 million on salaries although their revenues are between $60 and $70 million. Guaranteeing that they will lose money.
- The Leafs do not rank high compared to teams in other sports. There are 13 baseball teams worth more with the top ranked team, the Yankees, valued at $1.3 billion. There are 7 basketball teams valued above the Leafs with the top ranked team, the Knicks, valued at $608 million. Every NFL team is worth at least $800 million with the Dallas Cowboys valued at $1.6 billion. But no NFL, MLB, or NBA teams earn as big of a profit as the Maple Leafs.
