Forbes: Cincinnati Bengals Franchise Ranks 25th Most Valuable

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 25, 2010 11:12 PM EDT in Analysis

Every year Forbes releases valuations, or a list of franchise values, breaking down much of the franchise's financial breakdowns. The Dallas Cowboys are valued at $1.8 billion, which ranks tops in the NFL. The Washington Redskins, the league's second most valuable franchise, is valued at $1.6 billion. Oddly, yet perhaps expectedly, of the top seven most valuable teams in the NFL, four of them belong to the NFC East.

As for the AFC North, the most valuable franchise is expectedly the Baltimore Ravens, valued at $1.1 billion.

Any guesses on the least valued franchise in the AFC North?

The Cincinnati Bengals are valued at $905 million, ranking 25th in the NFL, a 5% decrease from the previous year, and last in the division. Last year, the Bengals were valued at $953 million, which ranked 21st in the league. Though the decrease isn't uncommon in the league -- many teams are seeing a reduction in their value from the previous year -- the Bengals sport one of the highest value decreases in the league. The Jacksonville Jaguars take the cake with a 16% decrease in value; the Rams ranked second with a -15% change. The Bills also experienced a12% decrease (see, Terrell Owens will WRECK your team if you let him leave).

For those of you finding yourself more immersed in the financial breakdown, because mostly what I see is blah, blah, blah, check out Forbes' Bengals page.

AFC North	Value	One-Year Change
Baltimore Ravens	$1.1 Billion	-1%
Cleveland Browns	$1 Billion	-2%
Pittsburgh Steelers	$996 Million	-2%
Cincinnati Bengals	$905 Million	-5%

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And yet people are whining that we have the lowest payroll in the division

Riiight.

RIP Slim.

by brandone on Aug 26, 2010 12:11 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Surprising

I would have thought the Steelers would have been the division leader, especially didn’t see them following the Browns. How is that franchise even profitable?

by TheCinWin on Aug 26, 2010 12:33 AM EDT reply actions

I'm scratching my head too.

I would’ve guessed it would have had something to do with longevity, but the Ravens are leading the division. It’s certainly not wins (actually the Steelers should be winning for that reason). I’d consider small market teams, I guess. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are small-market towns.

by Doc Scratch on Aug 26, 2010 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions

What you need to look at

In that report is operating income. The Bengals were something like 5th best in the league in operating income. They also ranked third in the league in the national market relevance, meaning their weight in their television market versus national. It’s irrelevant that they decreased in value; it’s a bad economy and nearly every sports franchise has decreased during the economy.

by whodeyla on Aug 26, 2010 3:35 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed.

I went straight for OpInc, and was genuinely surprised:

Bengals: $49.4M
Ravens: $44.9M
Browns: $36.1M
Steelers: $17.9M

So…despite the financial windfall from sales of a bazillion stupid little yellow towels, their OpInc is only 36.2% of ours??? LOL

by TheWalrus1971 on Aug 26, 2010 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

This is where the pay differencial comes in.

by jim0ijk on Aug 26, 2010 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

953 million

If my only problem was that my $953 million team was the least valued in the AFC North, I think I’d sleep well at night. I wonder how much money Paul Brown started it with. The Bengals are a cash cow.

by BonnieBengal on Aug 26, 2010 3:53 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks for posting this!!!

This is so awesome! Paul Allen is a baller. Seahawks aren’t even 10% of his net worth. Guy’s worth 13.5 billion!

by DonMegga on Aug 26, 2010 4:05 AM EDT reply actions

I wonder..

what it would be like to be an owner’s son. Just born a multi-multi millionaire.
Only makes me hate MB more..

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Aug 26, 2010 10:38 AM EDT reply actions

Why hate him for that?

No one can control who bears them, their race, gender, etc. Now if you disagree with his management style, I understand. But to hate him just because he was born into a family that owned a successful business? Do you also hate everyone else that walks this earth that was “Just born a multi-multi millionaire”? Seems a bit shortsighted…

by whodeyla on Aug 26, 2010 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Most people annoy me.

Does that count?

by jim0ijk on Aug 26, 2010 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely!

98% of everyone walking this planet annoy me…

by whodeyla on Aug 26, 2010 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I bought a shirt

that says “I hate everyone”, I liken it to my life’s motto

by TheCinWin on Aug 28, 2010 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions

A lot of the value of the franchise comes from the stadium arrangement the team has with the city. Ravens have a sweetheart deal with a state of the art stadium. They have sold out every game since their beginning in 1996.

by JacktheRaven on Aug 26, 2010 4:40 PM EDT reply actions

i’m pretty sure mike brown has a better deal with hamilton county on his stadium. he doesn’t lease; they pay him to be there.

i'm going to go america all over your ass!

by Raging Clue on Aug 26, 2010 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s a surprise that the Browns are ranked 2nd above the Steelers. It goes to show that being valued more doesn’t translate to success! See Browns, Redskins, etc :-)

by Dvdbumpus on Aug 26, 2010 8:39 PM EDT reply actions