- Thread Author
- #1
mhughes0021
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2011
- Messages
- 28,746
Forbes: Detroit Lions valued as No. 30 NFL franchise
Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer
The Detroit Lions had a positive operating income for the first time since 2009, but the franchise still ranks 30th among NFL teams in Forbes' latest NFL valuations.
Considering the size of Detroit's market and the popularity -- or lack thereof, nationally -- of the Lions, that they would be pretty far down the list of franchises is not all that surprising. But the Lions did make money and saw increases in almost every area in the last fiscal year, including on-the-field wins.
Whether that helped jump Detroit's value up is unclear, but it certainly couldn't have hurt. The Lions, according to Forbes, did score 30 percent more victories per dollar of payroll than the NFL average last season, a positive number the Lions have only reached one other time in the Forbes available data, in 2011.
But the jarring numbers come in the team's operating income. The Lions operated $36.1 million in the black last year. Compare that to the previous five seasons, when the Lions were always in the red, from a $2.9 million deficit during the 2009 season to $15.9 million for the 2013 season. This was all based on earnings before taxes, as well.
One other interesting nugget in the piece -- and I suggest you read it all -- is that the Lions made $21 per person in the Detroit metropolitan area last season.
Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer
The Detroit Lions had a positive operating income for the first time since 2009, but the franchise still ranks 30th among NFL teams in Forbes' latest NFL valuations.
Considering the size of Detroit's market and the popularity -- or lack thereof, nationally -- of the Lions, that they would be pretty far down the list of franchises is not all that surprising. But the Lions did make money and saw increases in almost every area in the last fiscal year, including on-the-field wins.
Whether that helped jump Detroit's value up is unclear, but it certainly couldn't have hurt. The Lions, according to Forbes, did score 30 percent more victories per dollar of payroll than the NFL average last season, a positive number the Lions have only reached one other time in the Forbes available data, in 2011.
But the jarring numbers come in the team's operating income. The Lions operated $36.1 million in the black last year. Compare that to the previous five seasons, when the Lions were always in the red, from a $2.9 million deficit during the 2009 season to $15.9 million for the 2013 season. This was all based on earnings before taxes, as well.
One other interesting nugget in the piece -- and I suggest you read it all -- is that the Lions made $21 per person in the Detroit metropolitan area last season.
