New York City FC are worth an estimated $275 million, the second-best mark in the Eastern Conference and number four overall in MLS, according to Forbes. (For reference, the league’s two lowest-valued teams, Columbus Crew SC and the Colorado Rapids, are worth just $265 million combined.)
Last year’s ranking placed NYCFC third overall at $255 million.
The average MLS side, based on 2016 financial data, is worth $223 million, a 20% increase over the previous year’s numbers. While $100 million expansion fee that City Football Group paid for the franchise still feels like part of a Ponzi scheme, it has turned out to be a keen investment: 20,000 season ticket holders, a legendary captain as reigning league MVP, and enviable merchandise sales figures can’t be wrong.