Cowboys extend reign as league's most valuable team: Forbes

[September 15, 2016]  (Reuters) - The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable National Football League team for a 10th consecutive year, nearly double the league average, according to an annual survey by business magazine Forbes on Wednesday.

The Cowboys, who last year unseated Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid for top spot on Forbes' list of the world's most valuable sports teams, are worth $4.2 billion, a 5 percent rise over last year, Forbes said in a statement.

Dallas have missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and have not won a Super Bowl since 1996 but still led the league in revenue ($700 million) and operating income ($300 million).

The New England Patriots ($3.4 billion), New York Giants ($3.1 billion), San Francisco 49ers ($3 billion) and Washington Redskins ($2.95 billion) rounded out the top five.

According to Forbes, the average value of the NFL's 32 teams rose 19 percent to $2.34 billion, a jump that was driven in part by the Rams relocating to Los Angeles from St. Louis and the league having the highest TV ratings and national broadcasting revenue of any U.S. professional sports league.

The 10 most valuable NFL teams (in billions):

1. Dallas Cowboys - $4.2

2. New England Patriots - $3.4

3. New York Giants - $3.1

4. San Francisco 49ers - $3

5. Washington Redskins - $2.95

6. Los Angeles Rams - $2.90

 Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

7. New York Jets - $2.75

8. Chicago Bears - $2.70

9. Houston Texans - $2.60

10. Philadelphia Eagles - $2.50

For the complete list visit (http://Forbes.com/NFL)

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

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