After making the playoffs for the first time in 11 years last season, Forbes Magazine valued the Detroit Lions as the 27th most valuable NFL franchise (out of 32) with an estimated net worth of $855 million. However because of the teams’ apparent renaissance the $855 million is up 1.3% from last season.
“The Lions’ 10-6 record in 2011 was its best in 16 seasons,” Forbes writes, “and QB Matthew Stafford won an ESPY award for comeback athlete of the year. The team’s brand is also getting some of its mojo back, as the Lions’ Monday Night Football game vs. the Chicago Bears not only set a Lions’ attendance record at Ford Field (67,861), but also earned a 36.4 household rating, according to Nielsen, making it the most-watched Lions’ regular season game ever in the Detroit market.”
The Dallas Cowboys were atop the Forbes list with an estimated value of $2.1 billion which ranks them second worldwide behind the Manchester United of the English Premier League with a price tag of $2.24 billion. In terms of the NFC North, the Chicago Bears were the most valuable with a value of $1.161 billion.
The five teams ranked behind the Lions are Atlanta, Buffalo, Oakland, St. Louis and Jacksonville.
h/t: Forbes, Mlive.com