Which Pro Sports Teams Are the Least Valuable?

While the global economy took a major hit during the pandemic, chances are your local pro sports team survived. All of them took a financial hit — the average NFL team lost an estimated $100 million-plus, we’re told — but it was little more than a loud hiccup for the most part. 

There’s still no shortage of billionaires who want in and for good reason. Even if they don’t know what they’re doing, it’s very difficult not to make money in professional sports over a short period of time. That includes the NHL (National Hockey League) and EPL (English Premier League), which have the 30 lowest-valued franchises of the five most-watched pro sports leagues — the vast majority of which still do quite well for themselves. 

Here’s how the 30 least valuable sports teams rank in terms of the bottom line.

29. Everton (Tie)

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owner: Farhad Moshiri

Total value: $520 million

League titles: 9

* Values are courtesy of Forbes (NHL) and Sportico (EPL).

Bottom Line: Everton

The Premier League has six piranhas. Here’s the biggest goldfish, tied with the New York Islanders in the 29th spot. The franchise ranks No. 7 in total value, nearly $2.3 billion behindTottenham Hotspur, which is next in line. 

It remains to be seen whether a new 52,000-seat stadium will put The Toffeemen on equal ground with crosstown rival Liverpool, but the gap figures to close sooner than later.

29. New York Islanders (Tie)

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA 

Principal owners: Jon Ledecky, Scott D. Malkin

Total value: $520 million

League titles: 4

Bottom Line: New York Islanders

This vagabond team is one of the more well-managed ones in the league. Soon it will have a real home — UBS Arena is set to open on Long Island, New York, in the 2021-22 season. 

So, yeah, the Isles appear to be in a good place finally. 

28. San Jose Sharks

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA 

Principal owner: Hasso Plattner

Total value: $515 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: San Jose Sharks

Where in the world is Passo Hlattner? Er, Hasso Plattner? Not in Silicon Valley, that’s for sure. Few in the Sharks organ-i-zation have ever seen their absentee owner. 

The German billionaire may not know a hockey puck from a zamboni machine, but he has made some nice pocket change off the venture just the same. 

27. St. Louis Blues

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA 

Principal owner: Tom Stillman

Total value: $510 million

League titles: 1

Bottom Line: St. Louis Blues

The Blue Notes have made quite a niche for themselves over the years. 

In the absence of local pro football and basketball teams, they own the 23rd largest media market in the country until the baseball Cardinals take over each summer. 

25. Minnesota Wild (Tie)

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA 

Principal owner: Craig Leipold

Total value: $500 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Minnesota Wild

So popular is hockey at the amateur levels in the so-called State of Hockey, the pro game isn’t as big a deal in Minnesota as in some other markets. 

It could take something special to elevate this expansion franchise to another level. Like a Stanley Cup parade, for instance. 

25. West Ham United (Tie)

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK 

Principal owners: David Gold, David Sullivan

Total value: $500 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: West Ham United

This London-based club boasts 125 years of history, heated local rivalries (Chelsea and Tottenham), 60,000-seat Olympic Stadium and a cool nickname (The Hammers). 

The bottom line may be comparatively modest, but the truth is, more than one franchise would trade places with this one. 

24. Calgary Flames

Sport/Country: Hockey/Canada

Principal owner: N. Murray Edwards

Total value: $480 million

League titles: 1

Bottom Line: Calgary Flames

As one of the half-dozen NHL teams north of the border, the Flames have built-in financial challenges. Like the others, it also has a hardcore group of fans who support their team through thick and thin. 

Better yet, an overdue new arena that is expected to be in place for the 2024-25 season can’t help but boost the bottom line.

22. Leicester City (Tie)

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK 

Principal owner: Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha

Total value: $470 million

League titles: 1

Bottom Line: Leicester City

The Foxes gagged away a top-four finish in the final day of the 2020-21 season, but their first-ever FA Cup championship made it a successful one just the same. 

In Srivaddhanaprabha, one of the more popular Premier League owners, they have a leader who’s fully intent to compete with the big boys for years to come. 

22. Tampa Bay Lightning (Tie)

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA 

Principal owner: Jeffrey Vinik 

Total value: $470 million

League titles: 2

Bottom Line: Tampa Bay Lightning

Hey, look — a successful NHL franchise in Florida! It starts with Vinik, a die-hard puckhead who isn’t afraid to spend a buck. 

The front office even took advantage of a loophole to exceed the salary cap last season, which pissed off a lot of people, too. 

21. Colorado Avalanche

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA

Principal owner: Stan Kroenke 

Total value: $465 million

League titles: 2

Bottom Line: Colorado Avalanche

Kroenke collects sports franchises the way the Kardashians do boyfriends. In addition to this NHL team, his portfolio includes the Colorado Mammoth (NLL), Colorado Rapids (MLS) and Arsenal (EPL). 

Talent-wise, the Avs are the best of the bunch. If they live up to their immense potential, the investment in the team could mean major payoffs.

20. Anaheim Ducks

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA 

Principal owners: Susan and Henry Samueli 

Total value: $460 million

League titles: 1

Bottom Line: Anaheim Ducks

This team has seen its record decline in each of the last four seasons. Now the front office wants to see results from the slew of young talent on the roster. The sooner, the better. 

Starry-eyed SoCal sports fans can render a franchise irrelevant in no time. 

19. Carolina Hurricanes

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA 

Principal owners: Tom Dundon, Peter Karmanos Jr. 

Total value: $440 million

League titles: 1

Bottom Line: Carolina Hurricanes

Arena renovations and an increased season-ticket base have put this franchise on firmer ground the last two seasons. It’s no coincidence that the on-ice product has been quite good in that time. 

What happens if and when that changes? Dundon can give the franchise back to Karmanos as part of their sales agreement.

18. Nashville Predators

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA 

Principal owner: Herbert Fritch

Total value: $435 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Nashville Predators

Fans flock to Bridgestone Arena, one of the better NHL venues around. Because the building is jointly owned by the city and county, the franchise doesn’t reap all the benefits. 

A modest local television deal further limits the resources here.

17. Ottawa Senators

Sport/Country: Hockey/Canada 

Principal owner: Eugene Melnyk

Total value: $430 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Ottawa Senators

Melnyk is the worst kind of public villain — one who doesn’t have to spend money to make money. Attendance at Canadian Tire Center has tumbled ever since the team was gutted four years ago, but a bargain basement payroll allows the franchise to stay in the black. 

The potential of a young nucleus and new arena offers hope for the future. Or not. 

16. Winnipeg Jets

Sport/Country: Hockey/Canada

Principal owner: True North Sports & Entertainment

Total value: $405 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Winnipeg Jets

The Peg is the smallest of the six Canadian markets by a considerable margin. Yet because of shrewd management and a passionate fanbase, its hockey team makes ends meet with plenty to spare. 

If there’s a better atmosphere than cozy Bell MTS Place, then it’s not on this planet. 

15. Buffalo Sabres

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA

Principal owner: Kim and Terrence Pegula

Total value: $385 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Buffalo Sabres

This should be a hockey gold mine, but when a team has been out of the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons, can you blame the fans and corporate sponsors if they want no part of it? 

So much potential, so little results.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA 

Principal owners: John P. McConnell, Nationwide

Total value: $310 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Columbus Blue Jackets

The team wasn’t much on the ice last season, but it did add a new pizza sponsor. If the BJs score at least two goals in a game, fans receive a discount. 

And if their team ever wins a playoff series, they get a free pizza and a six-pack every week for as long as they live. OK, we made that last part up.

13. Florida Panthers

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA 

Principal owner: Vincent Viola 

Total value: $295 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Florida Panthers

Hockey in Broward County? Really? Nearly one-fourth of its population is 65 years or older, which explains why BT&T Center is as desolate as the Everglades on game nights. 

At some point, the NHL brains will have to come to their senses and concede that pucks ain’t happenin’ here. 

12. Arizona Coyotes

Sport/Country: Hockey/USA 

Principal owner: Alex Meruelo 

Total value: $285 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Arizona Coyotes

Hockey has been a tough sell for this starless team in the desert. Management has a year-to-year lease agreement with stadium management, hardly the sign of a full-fledged commitment to the community. 

All of which begs to ask, how much longer can this marriage last?

11. Leeds United

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owners: Andrea Radrizzani, 49ers Enterprises

Total value: $280 million

League titles: 3

Bottom Line: Leeds United

Things are looking up at Elland Road, the one and only home in club history. 

After a 16-year hiatus, The Whites finished ninth in the Premier league with the most points (59) by a newly promoted side in 20 years. 

9. Newcastle United (Tie)

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owners: Mike Ashley

Total value: $265 million

League titles: 4

Bottom Line: Newcastle United

Few clubs have a prouder legacy than this one, but one has to wonder if the Magpies have seen their best days. Ashley threatens to sell the stagnant club about as often as Buckingham Palace changes guards. 

Disgruntled fans only hope that he finally makes good on his promise.

9. Aston Villa (Tie)

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owners: Wes Edens, Nassfe Sawiris 

Total value: $265 million

League titles: 7

Bottom Line: Aston Villa

Can American and Egyptian businessmen take the Lions to new heights? The ambitious co-owners want to grow the brand worldwide, and the process begins on the patch. 

They’ve promised to be aggressive in the way of talent acquisition in expectation of a quantum leap next season. We shall see. 

8. Crystal Palace

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owners: David Blitzer, Josh Harris, Steve Parish

Total value: $250 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Crystal Palace

First, there was the NBA Philadelphia 76ers franchise. Then the NHL New Jersey Devils. Now the Eagles of the Premier League. 

Are Harris and Blitzer in a race to see how many mediocre pro sports teams they can buy on the cheap? Or are they in it to win it? We’re not sure either.

7. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owner: Guo Guangchang

Total value: $235 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Since Fosun International purchased the club five years ago, the Wolves have risen from the second tier to Premier League status. But the pandemic has forced ownership to temper expectations of late. 

Like their parent company, the Wolves come off a difficult season beset with health issues and erratic play.

6. Southampton

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owner: Gao Jisheng

Total value: $205 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Southampton

There had been talk that Jisheng was about to cash in his chips — the Chinese businessman has an 80 percent stake in the club — and a sale of top players would take place if a suitable buyer wasn’t found. 

The pandemic has changed that for now, but The Saints face a murky future just the same.

5. Brighton & Hove Albion

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owner: Tony Bloom 

Total value: $200 million

League titles: 2

Bottom Line: Brighton & Hove Albion

Because its East Sussex home is off the beaten track, rivalries are hard to come by here. After a 34-year absence from the top flight, The Seagulls moved up to Premier League in the 2016-17 season and managed to stay there ever since. 

Like most of the bottom-enders, their margin for error remains this much.

4. Burnley

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owner: ALK Capital

Total value: $180 million

League titles: 2

Bottom Line: Burnley

The Clarets tumbled to 17th in the table last season, but the smallest town in the Premier League (population:  88,000) wasn’t down on its luck. 

A hearty fan base regularly packs 22,000-seat Turf Moor, which has been home for the last 131 years.  

3. Fulham

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owner: Shahid Khan

Total value: $165 million

League titles: 0

Bottom Line: Fulham

Khan and his $8 billion net worth have brought stability to this London club since his arrival eight years ago. (He also owns the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars franchise.) 

On-field success is crucial here. The Cottagers compete against deep-pocketed Chelsea in the same market, and its fickle fanbase is known to be only as loyal as the last outcome. 

2. West Bromwich Albion

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owner: Guochuan Lai 

Total value: $110 million

League titles: 1

Bottom Line: West Bromwich Albion

After a 19th-place finish (out of 20 clubs) in the 2020-21 EPL campaign, The Baggies were demoted to the English Football League. 

It’s not all bad in West Brom, though. Some of the best fans in soccer have long supported their team through thin and thinner.  

1. Sheffield United

Sport/Country: Soccer/UK

Principal owner: Abdullah bin Musa’ed

Total value: $60 million

League titles: 1

Bottom Line: Sheffield United

Prince Abdullah expects The Blades will follow the lead of his semi-successful Belgium Pro league club. 

After the team finished dead last in the Premier League and were relegated last season — buh-bye, television money — we have two words for him. Good luck.