Toronto Raptors' franchise value rose $500M in 2024 despite rebuild: report
The Toronto Raptors may not be winning all that much off the court, but they’re certainly winning a fair bit off of it.
According to a new report from Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen, the Raptors remain Canada’s most valuable pro sports franchise.
Despite a 7-20 record on the court and ticket prices dropping heavily on the resale market, the Raptors’ value increased by US$500 million over the last year. Per Sportico, the team’s current value is $4.66 billion, up from $4.11 billion a year ago.
Part of the reason for the NBA’s continued growth is a $77 billion TV deal over the next 11 years.
For franchises like Toronto, it’s a guaranteed money haul, as the deal “will triple the annual payout to franchises from last season by the end of the agreement,” Badenhausen added.
The Golden State Warriors topped the rankings with $9.16 billion, nearly twice Toronto’s valuation. The New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and Houston Rockets also cracked the top 10, while the Memphis Grizzlies were last at $3.06 billion.
Compared to other sports, the Toronto Maple Leafs came in as hockey’s most valuable team by Sportico’s projections earlier this year, with a valuation of $3.66 billion, which would’ve ranked them 23rd in the NBA.
All 32 NFL teams are more valuable than the Raptors, while seven MLB teams rank above at least one NBA team in the rankings but generally rank lower. The Toronto Blue Jays, by comparison, are the 13th most valuable MLB team, with a valuation of $2.27 million, according to Sportico’s rankings earlier this year.
The Raptors ownership is undergoing the process of shifting hands, with Rogers buying out Bell’s 37.5 percent stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) this past September.
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