Sports, whether they be football or cricket, have never ceased to amuse people. Additionally, the sport has developed into a multibillion dollar enterprise over the years. Between 2021 and 2023, the worldwide sports market grew significantly, from $486.61 billion to $512.14 billion. And it’s anticipated that the total will surpass $700 billion by 2026.
Sports leagues are an important component of the global market with entertainment glamour and draw a wide audience, positioning them at the forefront of innovation and adaptability.
The top 8 sports leagues worldwide are listed below.
Indian Premier League
After surpassing the $11 billion mark, the Indian Premier League, or IPL, has overtaken the NFL as the second-richest sports league. The most valued IPL club is Mumbai Indians (MI), whose brand is worth $1.3 billion. The IPL is second only to the NFL in terms of player salaries, with players taking home an average of $5.3 million per year.
National Football League
The National Football League, or NFL, which was founded in 1920, is at the top of the list with total revenues of $18 billion in 2022. The Dallas Cowboys are valued at the greatest amount, at $7.64 billion, and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers is paid the highest amount, at $50.3 million, for the 2022 season.
National Basketball Association
The NBA, or National Basketball Association, is ranked fourth on the list with slightly over $10 billion in revenue. With an average club worth of $3 billion and the Golden State Warriors being the most valuable team at $7.56 billion, the NBA is the most prestigious and wealthy basketball league in the world.
English Premier League
The English Premier League earns $5.3 billion annually, making it the fifth-richest and largest sports league. The combined valuation of the league’s 20 clubs totals an astounding $30.3 billion, with the average Premier League club valued at $1.51 billion.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL), one of the most well-known ice hockey leagues, is ranked sixth. It is believed to be worth $4.8 billion, with the New York Rangers being the most valuable club ($2.2 billion).
A total of 32 clubs compete in the ice hockey league, which consists of an 82-game regular season, playoffs, and Stanley Cup Finals. Most of the money the NHL makes each season comes from broadcasting rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, and expensive agreements with television networks.
La Liga Santander
One of the most well-known football competitions in the world, La Liga Santander in Spain is worth an estimated $4.5 billion. Real Madrid, the most valuable football team in the world in 2023 with a net worth of $5.1 billion, is located there.
Serie A
With a $2.8 billion revenue, Italy’s top-tier football league, Serie A, is the ninth wealthiest sports league and last on the list. The most valuable franchise in Serie A is AC Milan, with a market value of 571.4 million euros, thanks to its lengthy and illustrious history.
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League comes in last with an estimated $2.8 billion in income, with the Manchester City team having the highest value squad at €1.01 billion.
The Premier competition, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga are among the top club teams in the UEFA Champions League, the tenth-largest sports competition in the world. UEFA’s revenue dropped by roughly €2 billion during the 2021–22 season after reaching a record high the year before, which was significantly bolstered by the postponed European Championship.