Inside the 2009 Forbes MLB Franchise Valuations

Now in their 12th year, Michael K. Ozanian and Kurt Badenhausen have published the 2009 MLB franchise valuations for Forbes, and with it, the downturn in the economy has cast its shadow across the league. (See historical Forbes valuations from 2002-2009) The 30 clubs are valued at $14.475 billion, compared to $14.149 billion in 2008, an increase of 2.18 percent. However, the increases come mostly by way of the two New York clubs, both of which see new ballparks opening this year. The two clubs skew the average value of an MLB franchise to $482 million, with only 8 clubs seeing values higher than the league average (Yankees - $1.5 billion, Mets - $912 million, Red Sox - $833 million, Dodgers - $722 million, Cubs - $700 million, Angels - $509 million, Cardinals - $486 million). As further reported by Forbes: Team values increased an average of 1% over the past year to $482 million, an all-time high. Fueled by more ticket sales and television money, league revenue increased 5.5% to...