MLS Valuations Hit $731 Million Average as Investors Question 8.9x Revenue Multiples
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jul 18
MLS Valuations Hit $731 Million Average as Investors Question 8.9x Revenue Multiples
1 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jul 18
Summary
$731 million is now the average MLS club valuation, up from $185 million a decade ago, even as bankers and investors increasingly argue prices have outrun teams’ underlying business performance.
8.9 times trailing revenue is the league’s average valuation multiple—matching the NHL, topping MLB and even exceeding Manchester United and Real Madrid—despite many MLS clubs generating far less revenue than European peers.
19 of 30 MLS teams lost money on an operating basis in 2025, attendance has slipped to about 22,000, and the unresolved sales of Vancouver and San Jose are emerging as tests of the league’s true valuation floor.
Lionel Messi has still lifted the league’s profile: Inter Miami’s revenue jumped to $200 million last season, MLS weekly live viewership has risen to 7.9 million, and clubs are spending to convert World Cup interest into lasting fandom.
That tension defines MLS’s next phase: expansion fees, new stadiums and star signings support growth hopes, but a 2029 media-rights reset and pending club sales may determine whether current prices hold.
With soaring valuations and widespread losses, is MLS America’s next great sports investment or a bubble waiting to burst?
As MLS shifts its schedule to compete globally, can it win the viewership war against Mexico's more popular Liga MX at home?
MLS Hits $23 Billion in Team Valuations: Sustainability, Investor Scrutiny, and the Road Beyond 2026
Overview
Major League Soccer (MLS) has seen strong financial growth, with its 30 teams generating $2.5 billion last season, averaging $83 million per club. This revenue comes mainly from game days, sponsorships, and events at team venues. Despite a 5% drop in attendance, overall ticket revenue increased due to higher prices and strong premium sales, while sponsorship revenue also grew by over 10%. These trends highlight MLS’s ability to boost income even as attendance falls, showing promising revenue growth. However, questions remain about whether these rising revenues can support long-term profitability and justify soaring team valuations.