The Angels' $4B sale at 10x revenue signals a scarcity-driven pricing trend in MLB franchises, but the sustainability of these multiples is questionable due to risks like cord-cutting pressure on regional sports networks and potential leverage risks.
Risk: Secular pressure from cord-cutting and streaming shifts on regional sports networks
Opportunity: Scarcity value in live-sports assets and tax-advantaged vehicles for ultra-wealthy owners
This analysis is generated by the StockScreener pipeline — four leading LLMs (Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok) receive identical prompts with built-in anti-hallucination guards. Read methodology →
Stan Kroenke has agreed to buy the Los Angeles Angels from the Moreno family in a deal that values the MLB team and its regional sports network, Angels Broadcast Television, at $4 billion.
The record MLB valuation for the Angels is equivalent to 10 times the team's 2025 revenue, according to CNBC's MLB valuations published earlier this year. In …
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Stan Kroenke has agreed to buy the Los Angeles Angels from the Moreno family in a deal that values the MLB team and its regional sports network, Angels Broadcast Television, at $4 billion.
The record MLB valuation for the Angels is equivalent to 10 times the team's 2025 revenue, according to CNBC's MLB valuations published earlier this year. In comparison, the $3.9 billion sale of the San Diego Padres to José Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, approved by the MLB last month, had a multiple of eight times revenue.
CNBC has updated its MLB valuations based on the Angels deal, focusing on valuation-to-revenue multiples, market and stadium economics.
The average MLB team is now worth $4.04 billion, 37% more than our MLB valuations in March. The New York Yankees top the list with a value of $12 billion, 28% more than in March. The least valuable MLB team is still the Miami Marlins, but we now value the team at $2.2 billion, a 57% increase from March. The New York Mets, now worth $5.4 billion, jumped to fifth on our list, leapfrogging the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies.
Bankers CNBC spoke with regarding the Angels deal stressed that location is a big factor in the trophy appeal of owning a sports team. To wit: The recent announcement that Josh Kushner and Bob Iger have agreed to buy the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers at a $12.5 billion valuation.
We did not adjust the value of the Los Angeles Dodgers from our March rankings, keeping it at $8 billion, due to the controversy surrounding the team's owner, Mark Walter.
### CNBC’s Real-Time MLB Valuations
| Rank | Team | Real-time value | Change in value since 3/13/2026 | Value on 3/13/2026 | Revenue | EBITDA | Debt as % of Value | Owner(s) |
| 1 | New York Yankees | $12B | 28% | $9B | $755M | $5M | 1% | Steinbrenner family |
| 2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $8B | 0% | $8B | $950M | $92M | 8% | Guggenheim Baseball Management |
| 3 | Chicago Cubs | $7B | 33% | $5.25B | $552M | $74M | 8% | Ricketts family |
| 4 | Boston Red Sox | $6.9B | 38% | $5B | $537M | $66M | 5% | John Henry, Thomas Werner |
| 5 | New York Mets | $5.4B | 52% | $3.55B | $520M | $-280M | 8% | Steve and Alexandra Cohen |
| 6 | San Francisco Giants | $5.35B | 41% | $3.8B | $491M | $38M | 4% | Greg Johnson |
| 7 | Philadelphia Phillies | $5.3B | 47% | $3.6B | $523M | $-51M | 4% | Middleton family, Buck family |
| 8 | Houston Astros | $4.7B | 42% | $3.3B | $486M | $33M | 2% | Jim Crane |
| 9 | Atlanta Braves | $4.65B | 43% | $3.25B | $508M | $32M | 8% | Atlanta Braves Holdings |
| 10 | San Diego Padres | $4.1B | 32% | $3.1B | $484M | $20M | 11% | Seidler family |
| 11 | Texas Rangers | $4.05B | 47% | $2.75B | $441M | $-13M | 25% | Ray Davis |
| 12 | Los Angeles Angels | $4B | 48% | $2.7B | $401M | $-11M | 0% | Arturo and Carole Moreno |
| 13 | Toronto Blue Jays | $3.65B | 43% | $2.55B | $447M | $-39M | 0% | Rogers Communications |
| 14 | St. Louis Cardinals | $3.45B | 33% | $2.6B | $376M | $25M | 7% | William DeWitt Jr. |
| 15 | Seattle Mariners | $3.3B | 40% | $2.35B | $411M | $42M | 11% | John Stanton, Chris Larson |
| 16 | Washington Nationals | $3.05B | 49% | $2.05B | $314M | $-17M | 27% | Lerner family |
| 17 | Athletics | $3B | 20% | $2.5B | $324M | $2M | 8% | John Fisher |
| 18 | Baltimore Orioles | $2.95B | 48% | $2B | $328M | $-21M | 11% | David Rubenstein |
| 19 | Chicago White Sox | $2.9B | 35% | $2.15B | $224M | $-54M | 9% | Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin and Mat Ishbia |
| 20 | Arizona Diamondbacks | $2.85B | 44% | $1.98B | $360M | $-11M | 6% | Ken Kendrick |
| 21 | Detroit Tigers | $2.8B | 45% | $1.93B | $356M | $20M | 8% | Ilitch family |
| 22 | Milwaukee Brewers | $2.7B | 42% | $1.9B | $350M | $32M | 13% | Mark Attanasio |
| 23 | Colorado Rockies | $2.65B | 51% | $1.75B | $325M | $20M | 7% | Charles and Richard Monfort |
| 24 | Tampa Bay Rays | $2.5B | 47% | $1.7B | $287M | $27M | 7% | Patrick Zalupski |
| 25 | Cleveland Guardians | $2.45B | 45% | $1.69B | $339M | $37M | 6% | Paul Dolan, David Blitzer |
| 26 | Cincinnati Reds | $2.4B | 43% | $1.68B | $351M | $45M | 9% | Robert Castellini |
| 27 | Minnesota Twins | $2.35B | 42% | $1.65B | $352M | $20M | 12% | Pohlad family |
| 28 | Pittsburgh Pirates | $2.3B | 40% | $1.64B | $334M | $30M | 9% | Nutting family |
| 29 | Kansas City Royals | $2.25B | 38% | $1.63B | $332M | $5M | 17% | John Sherman |
| 30 | Miami Marlins | $2.2B | 57% | $1.4B | $304M | $35M | 29% | Bruce Sherman |
AI Talk Show
Four leading AI models discuss this article
Opening Takes
“This sale signals a location-driven trophy premium rather than a systemic re-rating; long-run upside depends on stable broadcast cash flows and stadium economics, which face RSN disruption and debt risk.”
Today's Angels sale at $4B, roughly 10x 2025 revenue, flags a LA trophy premium for MLB franchises and underscores the scarcity value in live-sports assets. But the reading that this signals a broad, secular re-rating of MLB economics may be overstated. CNBC valuations lean on revenue multiples and private cash-flow assumptions, which can hide leverage, capex, and volatility in on-field results. The Angels' zero debt figure in the table is unusual; real deals deploy debt and financing risks that could bite if interest costs rise. More importantly, regional sports networks face secular pressure from cord-cutting and streaming shifts, which could compress broadcast cash flows and stall multiple expansion unless stadium and local-market economics remain exceptionally strong.
The strongest counterclaim is: if you view this as a one-off LA trophy premium, you're ignoring the risk that RSN disruption and rising financing costs could erode the cash flows underpinning the lofty multiple.
“The shift toward 10x revenue multiples in MLB suggests a speculative bubble driven by trophy-asset scarcity that ignores the fundamental erosion of regional broadcast revenue models.”
The $4 billion valuation for the Angels, at a 10x revenue multiple, signals a massive decoupling of sports team prices from traditional cash flow metrics. With EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) for many teams hovering near zero or negative, these assets are clearly being priced as 'trophy' scarcity plays rather than operational businesses. While the headline growth is staggering, investors should be wary of the sustainability of these multiples. The reliance on regional sports networks (RSNs) in a cord-cutting era remains a significant structural risk that this valuation ignores. We are effectively seeing a 'greater fool' theory applied to institutional-grade sports assets, prioritizing prestige over yield.
If sports teams are increasingly treated as exclusive, non-correlated alternative assets for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, traditional valuation multiples like EBITDA are irrelevant, and the floor for these prices will continue to rise regardless of media rights volatility.
“The 37% league-wide valuation jump in 4 months is driven by multiple expansion on deteriorating fundamentals (negative EBITDA at 5+ teams), not revenue growth, signaling a speculative peak rather than sustainable value creation.”
The Angels deal at 10x revenue is a valuation inflection point, but it's masking a deteriorating asset. The Angels generated only $401M revenue on negative $11M EBITDA — they're unprofitable. Kroenke's $4B price tag is 48% higher than March valuations across the league, yet the Angels' underlying economics haven't improved; the jump reflects pure multiple expansion driven by scarcity (trophy LA real estate) and Kroenke's balance sheet, not operational strength. The Mets' 52% revaluation is more concerning: they're at negative $280M EBITDA on $520M revenue. We're pricing in RSN (regional sports network) value that may not materialize post-cord-cutting. The article doesn't address whether these multiples are sustainable or a bubble.
Kroenke wouldn't overpay for a trophy asset in a growth market; the Angels' Anaheim location has upside potential, and bundling the RSN may unlock value that standalone metrics miss.
“MLB valuations have run ahead of fundamentals, pricing in revenue growth that negative-EBITDA clubs may not deliver.”
The Angels $4B sale at 10x revenue and the 37% jump in average MLB team value to $4.04B look like classic trophy-asset inflation. Most teams still show thin or negative EBITDA, with the Mets at -$280M and several others below zero, while RSN revenue faces cord-cutting pressure. The Dodgers were deliberately left flat at $8B due to ownership issues, hinting that not every premium asset clears these multiples cleanly. Location premiums in LA and New York are real, but the gap between 8-10x revenue and actual cash flow suggests buyers are paying for scarcity and media optionality that may not scale evenly across smaller markets.
Recent cleared comps—the Padres at 8x and the Lakers at $12.5B—show that top-market scarcity and new ownership capital can sustain these multiples even when current earnings are weak.
The Debate
Responding to Gemini
“Debt and fragile media-rights tailwinds threaten the sustainability of a 10x revenue multiple, even for top markets.”
Gemini is right that this looks like scarcity-driven pricing, but I’ll push back on the 'greater fool' framing. The table showing zero debt for the Angels is a red flag; real deals use debt, which strains returns when rates rise. Also RSN/cable tailwinds look fragile; if streaming battles intensify or stadium capex accelerates, the 10x revenue multiple could compress even in top markets.
Responding to Claude
“Negative EBITDA in MLB is often a tax-optimization strategy rather than a sign of operational insolvency, providing a floor for valuations.”
Claude, you’re missing the tax-shield angle. These negative EBITDA figures for the Mets and others are often artificial, driven by massive non-cash depreciation of stadium assets and player contracts. Private owners aren't just buying 'trophies'; they're buying tax-advantaged vehicles that offset other income. While RSNs are clearly in secular decline, the valuation floor is supported by this tax efficiency and the ability to leverage these assets against other holdings, not just operational cash flow.
Responding to Gemini
“Tax shields mask but don't eliminate the structural cash-flow risk from cord-cutting; they extend the timeline before repricing, not prevent it.”
Gemini's tax-shield argument is real but incomplete. Yes, depreciation creates write-downs that shelter other income—that's valuable for ultra-wealthy owners. But it doesn't solve the underlying problem: if RSN cash flows collapse faster than depreciation schedules allow, owners face negative actual cash returns despite tax benefits. Tax efficiency buys time, not perpetual value. The floor isn't higher; it's just delayed.
Responding to Gemini
“Tax shields front-load relief but cannot offset RSN erosion once depreciation schedules mature and leverage enters the structure.”
Gemini's tax-shield argument ignores the timing mismatch: depreciation write-downs front-load benefits but fade after 7-10 years, while RSN cord-cutting accelerates annually. ChatGPT correctly flagged the zero-debt table entry; introducing leverage to monetize those shields would magnify downside if local TV deals reset 20-30% lower post-2025. The floor for non-LA assets may crack first.
Panel Verdict
NEUTRAL No ConsensusThe Angels' $4B sale at 10x revenue signals a scarcity-driven pricing trend in MLB franchises, but the sustainability of these multiples is questionable due to risks like cord-cutting pressure on regional sports networks and potential leverage risks.
Scarcity value in live-sports assets and tax-advantaged vehicles for ultra-wealthy owners
Secular pressure from cord-cutting and streaming shifts on regional sports networks
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research.