Patriots Price: New England's Rank Among World's Most Valuable Sports Franchises?

Even in its depleted state, the New England Patriots franchise remains one of the most valuable in professional sports.

As victorious norms continue to dwindle and nearly vanish in Foxborough, the New England Patriots managed to keep at least one honor in their grasp.

New England placed eighth on Sportico's annual listing of the 100 most valuable sports teams in the world in 2023, appraised at $6.7 billion in this week's unveiling. That was good for fourth among NFL teams behind the Dallas Cowboys ($9.2 billion), New York Giants ($7.04 billion), and Los Angeles Rams ($6.94 billion). 

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and head coach Jerod Mayo / Cred: WJAR-10, Providence, RI

The list took several financial factors into consideration including total value, team value, team-related businesses, and real estate holdings. Kraft Group CEO Robert Kraft originally purchased the team in 1994 at a value of $172 million.

While New England endured its worst season in over two decades, there was still plenty to get excited about from a business perspective. 

New England took in a fair amount of attention this season thanks in part to the retirement of Tom Brady. The subsequent retirement of the No. 12 that Brady wore in New England likely played in the team's financial favor and some of the NFL's prime scheduling slots called the Patriots' name. 

The Brady retirement game earned the "America's Game of the Week" treatment from Fox and New England also earned an international and holiday date, facing the Indianapolis Colts in Germany and the Denver Broncos in the Christmas Eve nightcap. 

Kraft Denies Patriots' Cheap Spending: 'Not True!'

Sportico's list proved to be another sign of the NFL's staying power on the modern sports fan's imagination: each of the 32 NFL teams appeared in the top 51 (13 in the first 20 alone), with that portion of the list rounded out by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

---