Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns have had a rough go of it since returning to the NFL in 1999.
Just four playoff appearances and one playoff win in that time. A losing record in 22 seasons, with 18 seasons of double-digit losses. The glorious 0-16 season of 2017.
Compounding the issue is that their current home, Huntington Bank Field, is bordered by Lake Erie to the north, a freeway to the south, and the Great Lakes Science Center and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to the east, leaving no room for the type of entertainment and business district that is all the rage among team owners.
When you add that all up, it’s not a surprise that the Browns landed in the lower third of Sportico’s annual ranking of the league’s most valuable franchises.
The Browns check in at No. 23 with a valuation of $6.14 billion, representing a 19 percent increase from 2024. That is certainly nothing to cry over, especially since the Browns are ahead of both the Baltimore Ravens (No. 24 at $6 billion) and the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 32 at $5.5 billion).
But it is still a long way from the top, where the Dallas Cowboys sit at No. 1 with a valuation of $12.8 billion. Rounding out the top five are the Los Angeles ($10.43 billion and a new stadium in 2020), the New York Giants ($10.25 billion and playing in the top media market), the New England Patriots ($8.76 billion), and the San Francisco 49ers ($8.6 billion).
Sportico determined each team’s value by combining the value of a franchise along with the value of any team-related businesses and real estate holdings.
That last part helps explain, in part, why the Cowboys and Patriots are ranked so high. Dallas owner Jerry Jones has his hands in numerous ventures, including a 20 percent interest in Legends Hospitality; and The Star in Frisco, a 91-acre campus that is home to the Cowboys headquarters and practice facility, a 300-room Omni Hotel, a Baylor Scott & White sports therapy and research center, and a private social club and restaurant called the Cowboys Club.
With the Patriots, owner Robert Kraft has developed the area around Gillette Stadium into Patriot Place, which includes dining, entertainment, retail, hotels, and healthcare facilities.
And while it is not a one-to-one comparison since Major League Baseball plays far more games than NFL teams, the Atlanta Braves generated an estimated $25 million in revenue in the second quarter of this year from The Battery in Atlanta, which is adjacent to Truist Park.
That is exactly what the Haslams are hoping to achieve with the domed stadium project in Brook Park. The stadium will be cool, but it is the surrounding area projected to include an entertainment district, hotels, and business space, that will enrich the bank account on top of the revenue the Browns generate each season.
It is still a few years until that becomes a reality, as the Browns will be playing out their current...
