The ESPYS went down the evening of July 16, where the best of the best of what has been a scintillating sports season were rewarded and awarded for giving sports journos and fans so much to talk about. It was hosted by Drake.
Speaking of journos, ESPN’s Stuart Scott was honored with the Jimmy V Perseverance Award for his unbreakable spirit as he continues his battle against a form of cancer.
His inspirational speech was arguably the most poignant segment at the awards ceremony.
Kevin Durant won the the coveted Best Male Athlete of the Year, beating out Peyton Manning, Miguel Cabrera, and Floyd Mayweather. Best female athlete of the year went to the UFC‘s Ronda Rousey. She was selected over Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, and skier Mikaela Shiffren.
The Seattle Seahawks also winning big at the ESPYS. They picked up the award for best team after their big win at the Super Bowl.
But does a successful season actually increase a team’s financial worth? Forbes recently published its list of the 50 most valuable sports teams across the world and despite their banner season, the Seahawks didn’t crack the top 15.
Let’s take a look at the ones that did. Bear in mind because of all the drama still going on with the Los Angeles Clippers, the team’s reported $2 billion price tag is still not yet a done deal.
Number 15 (Los Angeles Lakers)
Forbes values the team at $1.35 billion.
Team owners include the late, great Jerry Buss Family Trusts and Philip Anschutz.
After the team’s lackluster last couple of seasons, the Lakers are in the second year of their kicked blockbuster $3.6 billion, 20-year TV deal with Time Warner.
Kobe Bryant who has given 17-plus seasons of stellar work just got paid and signed a two-year $48.5 million contract.
Number 14 (New York Jets)
Forbes values the New York Jets at $1.38 billion.
Team owner is Robert Wood Johnson IV.
The Jets are reportedly struggling to fill MetLife Stadium. Forbes reports attendance was 93% of capacity last season, which ranked 23rd among NFL teams.
Number 13 (New York Knicks)
Forbes values the New York Knickerbockers at $1.4 billion.
Team owners include James Dolan and Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks haven’t played up to their full potential but a $1 billion renovation of Madison Square Garden may have been what the doctor ordered because revenue is still up. Ratings were down 29% this season, but according to Forbes, the Knicks still had the NBA’s biggest average audience with 163,000 viewers per game. They also just signed superstar scorer Carmelo Anthony to a massive contract and hired Mr. Eleven rings Phil Jackson to guide them to the promised land.
Number 12 (Houston Texans)
Forbes has the Houston Texans worth at $1.45 billion.
The team owner is listed as Robert McNair.
The Texans finished with the NFL’s worst record last season. But they have Jadeveon Clowney after selecting the South Carolina defensive end with the first overall pick in the NFL draft.
Number 11 (Boston Red Sox)
The Red Sox are at $1.5 billion, according to Forbes.
Team owners are John Henry and Thomas Werner.
After not winning a World Series since 1918, the Red Sox finally conquered the so-called “curse of the Bambino” in 2004 winning their first championship since they traded Babe Ruth. They won their third World series last year which triggered a 14% spike in the “team’s local television rating, to 7.3, on the New England Sports Network.”
Number 10 (New York Giants)
Valued at $1.55 billion by Forbes.
Owners are John Mara and Steven Tisch.
This team has packed 80,000 plus fans per game into MetLife Stadium last season. Only the Dallas Cowboys did better.
Number 9 (Washington Redskins)
This one is valued at $1.7 billion by Forbes.
Team owner is Dan Snyder.
The Redskins have been deluged with cries to change the team’s name, but team owner Snyder isn’t trying to hear it. Dan Snyder bought the team in 1999.
Number 8 (New England Patriots)
The Pats are valued at $1.8 billion by Forbes.
Owner is Robert Kraft.
According to Forbes, the Patriots have “sold out every home game since 1994 even though their ticket prices are second-highest in the league.”
Number 6 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Valued at $2 billion by Forbes.
Owners include Lakers legend Magic Johnson with the Guggenheim Partners, a Chicago-based financial services company.
Major League Baseball approved the Dodgers new $8.35 billion, 25-year television deal with Time Warner Cable in January.
Number 5 (Dallas Cowboys)
Valued at $2.3 billion folks and team owner is Jerry Jones.
America’s team clinched a 25-year stadium rights deal with AT&T last year for an estimated $500 million.
Number 4 (New York Yankees)
The Yanks are valued at $2.5 billion by Forbes.
Owned by the Steinbrenner Family.
The Yanks are the United States’ highest valued team and they aren’t even in the top three.
CC Sabathia became the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history when he signed with the team in 2009.
Forbes reports the enterprise value of YES, the regional sports network 20% owned by the Yankees, was $3.9 billion for 80% acquired by 21st Century Fox in November, 2013.
The highest valued teams across the globe as valued by Forbes are all international soccer Teams:
Number 1 (Real Madrid) Value: $3.44 billion
Number 2 (Barcelona) Value: $3.2 billion
Number 3 (Manchester United) Value: $2.81 Billion