Growing investments into esports, a look at the world’s most valuable sports franchises, and financial help for British football… Check out the key news from the world of sports and betting with STATSCORE’s review!
- What are the world’s most valuable sports franchises?
- Brand investment in esports approaching $1 billion
- 40,131 UK football teams given financial boost
- Return of large sports crowds ‘unrealistic’, says WHO
- Belgian league ordered by court to switch to 18-team format
What are the world’s most valuable sports franchises?
Despite suspensions of sports seasons, empty venues, and plummeting revenues, the world’s top sports franchises are, quite amazingly, worth more now than last year.
Dallas Cowboys are currently the world’s most valuable sports club at $5.5 bn, according to the Forbes annual report.
US sports have dominated the ranking. 27 out of top 50 franchises compete in the NFL, 9 play in the NBA, and 7 in the MLB.
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Seven European football (soccer) clubs have also been featured in the top 50: Real Madrid (6.), FC Barcelona (8.), Manchester United (10.), Bayern Munich (24.), Manchester City (34.), Chelsea (37.), Arsenal (47.)
| Rank | Franchise | League | Value (in billions) |
| 1. | Dallas Cowboys | NFL | $5.5 |
| 2. | New York Yankees | MLB | $5.0 |
| 3. | New York Knicks | NBA | $4.6 |
| 4. | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA | $4.4 |
| 5. | Golden State Warriors | NBA | $4.3 |
Brand investment in esports approaching $1 billion
Advertising and sponsorship investments are set to rise 9.9% globally to reach US$844 million in 2020, according to the latest Global Advertising Trends report from WARC.
The report also forecasts that the value of brand investment in esports will surpass US$1 billion in 2022. Esports penetration is especially visible in Asia, where 30% of people watch esports.
The rise of esports is linked to the suspensions and cancellations of traditional sporting events due to COVID-19. Read more
40,131 UK football teams given financial boost
United Kingdom’s football clubs have been given helping hand by the Premier League, The FA, and the Government’s Football Foundation.
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At first, the clubs received £7m of investment through the Pitch Preparation Fund, and now the help will continue with 3,383 grants worth £1,691,500, which the teams will receive through the Club Preparation Fund.
A total of 40,131 football teams across Great Britain will benefit from this help, including 32,921 grassroots teams, 6,742 teams in The FA National League System, 197 teams in The FA Women’s Football Pyramid, and 10 clubs in the Welsh Cymru Premier League.
Return of large sports crowds ‘unrealistic’, says WHO
WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said it would be ‘unrealistic’ to expect large crowds of fans at sports events this year in places affected with COVID-19.
Ryan also said that it could be ‘disastrous’ to allow the return of sports events with tens of thousands of supporters attending.
“Large crowds of 40, 50, 60,000 people – it’s not just the risk of being in the stadium, it’s the risk of going to the stadium, the public transport, the bars and the clubs,” he added, as reported by AFP. Read more
Belgian league ordered by court to switch to 18-team format
The Belgian football league has decided to change its format to an 18-team competition after a court ruling that ordered the reinstatement of a demoted team.
The demoted team, Waasland-Beveren, had sued the Pro League after it had been relegated when Belgian authorities cancelled the season due to the coronavirus pandemic. The club argued that it still had a chance to retain its position in the league if the season hadn’t been stopped. The court ruled that Waasland-Beveren should be reinstated under a financial penalty of €2.5m ($2.9m) for every match played without the club in the league.
After the court ruling, the league decided to expand to 18 teams for the following two seasons, which will allow it to include Waasland-Beveren, as well as OH Leuven and Beerschot, the two clubs involved in the 2020-21 promotion play-off. Read more
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