WHAT IS THE MLS WORTH?

Written by: tyler ransburgh

Forbes says about half a billion dollars if you add up the value of all 13 teams (the study was conducted based on last year, San Jose was not a member of the league yet). To be exact, $485 million. That is $37 million per club on average. But the actually break down is not as flattering, with only three teams turning a profit.

It is also getting more expensive to bring a new franchise into the league. Seattle and Philadelphia are paying $30 million each to add their teams to the MLS. The next two teams will pay $40 million in 2009 to join the league. Toronto, who joined 3 years ago, plaid closer to $10 million to join.

Only three clubs are operating in the black, one of them being the three year old Toronto FC. Here is the list of each club and their financials:

_________________________Value                 Revenue           Operating Income

1. Los Angeles Galaxy:    $100 million        $36 million             $4 million
2. Toronto FC:                $44 million          $17 million              $2.1 million
3. Chicago Fire:              $41 million          $16 million            -$3.1 million
4. FC Dallas                    $39 million          $15 million             $0.5 million
5. New York Red Bulls      $36 million          $10 million           -$4.5 million
6. DC United                   $35 million          $13 million           -$3 million
7. Houston Dynamo         $33 million          $10 million           -$1.8 million
8. Colorado Rapids          $31 million           $11 million           -$2.2 million
9. Real Salt Lake             $30 million           $7 million             -$2.1 million
10. New England Revs       $27 million           $10 million           -$1.5 million
11. Chivas USA                 $24 million           $10 million           -$1 million
12. Columbus Crew           $23 million           $6 million             -$4.5 million
13. Kansas City Wizards     $22 million           $5 million             -$2.9 million