Forbesreleased its annual valuations of MLS teams on Wednesday, with the average value of an MLS team rising 18 percent – from $157 million to $185.4 million – over the 2015 rankings.
The Seattle Sounders held on to their top spot in the rankings, coming in at $285 million (up $40 million from 2015), while the LA Galaxy again finished second at a value of $265 million (up $25 million).
Outside of the Sounders and Galaxy, there were some changes to the list, most notably the additions of 2015 expansion teams New York City FC (No. 3 at $255 million) and Orlando City (No. 5 at $240 million), which both got an in-depth examination in the report. Since Forbes uses data from the previous season in its valuations, 2016 is the first year they were eligible to make the list.
The current value of the average MLS team according to Forbes has not only increased 18 percent compared to last year, but it's also 80 percent higher than 2013 ($103 million) and 401 percent higher than the 2008 figure of $37 million.
Among the reasons cited by Forbes for the continued growth in valuations include teams' investments in stadiums and training facilities, player development and the continued acquisition of star talent.
Top 5 - 2016 Forbes list of Most Valuable MLS Teams:
- Seattle Sounders, $285 million
- LA Galaxy, $265 million
- New York City FC, $255 million
- Toronto FC, $245 million
- Orlando City SC, $240 million
Check out the full list at Forbes.com.
