Total revenue of Major League Baseball 2001-2023
In 2023, Major League Baseball, the North American professional baseball league, reported overall revenue of 11.34 billion U.S. dollars, corresponding to an average revenue of roughly 378 million U.S. dollars per team. The MLB's revenue is generated from several sources such as broadcast rights, merchandise sales, ticket sales, and sponsorships. The MLB continues to be one of the most profitable sports leagues in the world, with revenues consistently growing year over year.
MLB franchise values
MLB teams have some of the highest franchise values out of all professional sports leagues worldwide. For instance, as of 2024, the New York Yankees were the second most valuable sports team worldwide. The average franchise value of MLB teams has experienced positive year-on-year growth since 2002, registering an increase of nearly 100 million U.S. dollars between 2023 and 2024. Overall, the New York Yankees were the highest valued MLB team in 2024, worth an estimated 7.55 billion U.S. dollars and significantly higher than the second most valuable franchise in the league, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Broadcasting MLB in the U.S.
The profitability of Major League Baseball in the United States can partly be explained by the millions of fans who consistently watch their favorite franchises compete on television. Championship games are especially busy for broadcasters, with the average TV viewership of the MLB World Series games in the U.S. attracting 9.11 million fans. The league’s strong TV viewership has led to lucrative deals with broadcasters in the country, with the annual value of MLB TV deals in the U.S. totaling 1.84 billion U.S. dollars in the 2024 season.
