Top 10 Most profitable sports leagues in the world – Sports are important factors for entertainment and fun. They play a major role in competitive games played between different countries in the world. Many people love sports because they are fun, and unpredictable and keep people alive.
However, for sports executives, it is all about making profits. Check out the below for the top 10 most profitable sports leagues in the world. Meanwhile, in recent times sports have become one of the most profitable parts of the entertainment industry. By making billions of dollars from different resources.
Sports teams and leagues earn profit from transfers, stadium rentals, sponsorships, ticket revenues, broadcasting deals, and more. Sports generate an amazing amount of revenue across the world. However, popular leagues are not the same.
If you are wondering about which leagues generate more money, you are welcome to the right article. Follow this article to the very end to learn the 10 most profitable sports leagues in the universe.
Top 10 Most Profitable Sports Leagues in the World
Without much ado, below are the 10 most profitable and richest sports leagues in the world presently. Feel free to take a look at them;
1. National Football League (NFL)
The National Football League is a popular American football league and it is presently the biggest and richest sports league in the world. Formed in 1920, it is just a few billion dollars short of being more than all the soccer entries in the world.
In America, it consists of 32 teams competing against each other and it is divided equally between the American Football Conference and National Football Conference. NFL generated more than $16 Billion in the 2021 season.
This league earns its revenue from licensing, TV deals, ticket sales, merchandising, and more. And its revenue is expected to grow to $25 billion by 2017. Just so you know, the revenue is distributed among 32 teams equally. The broadcast cost of every National Football League game is estimated to be $36 billion.
2. Indian Premier League (IPL)
Formed in India in 2001, the IPL is a men’s professional cricket league that takes place in India every year. It consists of 10 teams as of 2022 and has expanded from the original eight. This year, it generated more than 10 billion dollars.
Its media right for 2021-3027 was sold for $6.2 billion. India’s premier league also has a huge fan base and viewership. In addition, the league is sponsored by Tata, and the cost per game to broadcast the league is 15.1 million dollars.
3. Major League Baseball (MLB)
MLB is a baseball organization and the oldest professional sports league in the world. It is an American-based sport and the second most viewed sport in America. Major League Baseball has a huge fan base in America and generates total revenue of $10 billion per year. Initially, MLB’s gross revenue was $1.2 billion, however, it later grew to $10.3 billion in the year 2028 and $10.7 billion in 2019.
4. National Basketball Association (NBA)
The National Basketball Association is a very popular and rich basketball league in North America. It consists of 30 teams. 1 in Canada and 29 in the United States of America. In 2020/2019, the teams of NBA generated around 7.92 billion dollars. Also, it consists of the richest players around the globe.
For instance, Players like Anthony, Butler, and Lebron James are icons in the sports industry. Presently, it generates annual revenue of $billion per year. The league has signed contracts with popular national TV broadcasters generating $500 million in international media revenue. The National Basketball franchise itself is worth $ 1 billion.
5. English Premier League (EPL)
The Premier League often called the English Premier League is the best and top level of the English football league. It is one of the most watched sports all over the globe. Every club in this league generates its revenue through sponsorship and commercial deals.
EPL alone generates revenue of $5.3 Billion per year. And in the 2016/17 season available data, the league made up to €5.3 billion. The broadcast cost of one game of the EPL is $11.23 between 2022 and 2025.
6. National Hockey League (NHL)
The National Hockey League is an ice hockey league in North America consisting of thirty-two teams. It has 7 in Canada and 23 in the United States. Hockey is one of the oldest and most prestigious forms of sports events in India.
The league generates $4.8 billion per year. It is one of the biggest hockey leagues in the world and it stands at number 6th on the Top 10 Most Profitable Sports Leagues in the World list. In addition, in 2018/19 its revenue increased to $5.08 billion.
7. La Liga Santander
This is a professional Men Football league based in Spain. It is one of the best and top football leagues in Spain. The league pulls its revenue from transfer sales, commercial deals, ticket sales, and broadcasting deals. This year, it generated revenue of $4.5 billion. During the 2017/18 campaign, la Liga revenues rose by 20.6%.
8. Germany’s Bundesliga
The Germany Bundesliga is a professional football league based in Germany. It is the most popular football league system in Germany. It consists of 18 teams and operates on a promotion and relegation system. Bundesliga generates annual revenue of $4.3billion. Also, it has a high audience and fan base.
9. Italy’s Serie A
Serie A is a popular professional league in Europe and to all football fans. Italy’s top-flight league generates annual revenue of $2.3 billion. It has been a league competition for football clubs since 2004 and has 20 clubs in total. It has high-profile players like Tammy Abraham, and Romelu Lukaku, who have joined among other players.
10. UEFA Champions League
The Union European Football Association Champions League is a popular professional football association that was formed in 1954. It consists of 34 teams and every season teams are selected based on their respective league’s performances.
Since it was founded, 22 teams have won the tournament gracefully. UEFA champion’s league generates a sum of $2 billion annually. From 2021-2014, they are paying over £400m.