Forbes: Major League Soccer is gaining major ground in the U.S.
Forbes: Major League Soccer is gaining major ground in the U.S.
In 2011, average MLS attendance hit 17,872 to surpass both the NBA and NHL, and it has since increased to 18,611 fans per game. More impressively, the average franchise is now worth $103 million, up more than 175% over the last five years. With five planned expansion teams and a new league TV deal on the way, there’s no reason to believe that growth is slowing anytime soon.
Ten of the league’s 19 teams are making a profit (in terms of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). The Sounders are now the league’s most valuable franchise at $175 million, a massive 483% increase over its 2009 sale price. And in May of 2013 a new ownership group paid $100 million just as an expansion fee to start a team in New York City.
