Oregon Ducks football valued at just under $1 billion, per The Athletic

USA Today

5 days ago

A good investment, if you have that type of cash, is a professional sports franchise. Most of them have valuations that just keep going through the atmosphere.
For example, the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the NBA's storied franchises, were sold recently for a robust $10 billion. On the other end of the spectrum, the Tampa Bay Rays, a team that is always on the verge of moving out and is currently playing in a minor league park, is looking to sell for around $1.7 billion.
College football teams are different. They aren't professional franchises, even though many make just as much money as some.
The New York Times attempted to determine the value of each of the Power 4 teams if they were franchises that could be sold to the highest bidder. According to the article, the Oregon Ducks would be valued at around $990 million, just missing the $1 billion mark.
"In prestige and championship potential, the Ducks — the top team on this list that has never won a national title — are probably undervalued here," writer Matt Baker said. "Nike has made them a national brand, and Dan Lanning has re-established them as a title contender. Though Oregon proved it belongs in the Big Ten by winning the conference championship in Year 1, the Ducks get a half-share payout from the league until the 2030 fiscal year. That reality kept them from being the 14th member of our $1 billion club.
At the top of the list of college franchises is the Texas Longhorns, valued at $2.38 billion, followed by the Georgia Bulldogs ($1.92 billion), Ohio State Buckeyes ($1.9 billion), and Notre Dame Fighting Irish ($1.84 billion).
The Ducks generate $90 million in revenue annually, but playing in a traditional small market, with the largest market nearby being Portland, which is not a major market itself, doesn't help their valuation. Although Autzen Stadium is great, it's relatively small compared to other college stadiums. Just an expansion of the stadium to perhaps 70,000 would probably push the Ducks over that $1 billion threshold.
But it really doesn't matter since the Ducks aren't a pro team. Oregon is a very successful college program that is the envy of most and isn't hurting for cash.
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