Forbes: Atlanta Braves’ Franchise Value Continues to Increase

Braves’ Value Increases, though overall MLB franchise rank slips a notch in 2016 Forbes Report

Want to buy the Atlanta Braves?  You could be looking through couch cushions for quite a while.  In the latest edition of Forbes magazine’s annual report of MLB franchise values, the Braves have been estimated to have a value of $1.18 billion dollars – inching up from 2015’s $1.15 billion, the seventh straight year of increase.

It’s not a big surprise that there hasn’t been much movement since 2015:  while wheels are in motion to improve club revenues via the new stadium and the entertainment complex to surround it, those revenues have not kicked in yet and probably won’t be counted until the release of their 2018 survey.  Still, there was big jump in that 2015 value:  largely due to an improved (though still inferior) TV deal and the promise of the new Cobb County stadium.

Braves’ watcher Scott Lindholm helped us out on this subject this week:  you can see the changes in franchise valuations identified by Forbes over the past 17 reports thanks to his work:

Overall, the Braves rank 13th in major league baseball.  In 2015, they were 12th – the difference being that the Mariners jumped up and over both the Tigers and the Braves this year.  At the same time, 17 clubs are now rated at or above $1 billion, up from 15 last season.

The Yankees and Dodgers are #’s 1 and 2, though with a fair separation:  $3.4 billion and $2.5 million respectively.  Perhaps the most surprising ranking is the St. Louis Cardinals at 7th overall ($1.6 billion).  This is a team that gets a ‘Competitive Balance’ pick since it is located in a smaller market and supposedly has more difficulty in generating revenue.  Hmmm.

The Full 2016 Forbes List

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Next: Braves Acquire More Southpaw Relief

Want a bargain team?  Try either of the Florida clubs:  the Marlins ($675 million) and the Rays ($650 million).