Rams’ Valuation Soars to $10.43 Billion, Second Only to Cowboys
A decade ago, the St. Louis Rams were at the bottom of the NFL in franchise value, estimated at just $930 million. Struggling with an unfavorable stadium lease and little growth potential in St. Louis, the team turned its attention back to Los Angeles.
The move west set the stage for a dramatic transformation. After acquiring land at the former Hollywood Park racetrack in Inglewood, owner Stan Kroenke developed SoFi Stadium, a $5 billion state-of-the-art venue that has redefined the franchise and reshaped the NFL’s presence in Los Angeles.
Today, the Rams are worth $10.43 billion, according to Sportico’s latest franchise valuations. That figure places them second in the league, behind only the Dallas Cowboys at $12.88 billion.
The Rams now join the Lakers as Los Angeles’ second sports franchise with a valuation above $10 billion. The Lakers’ figure was confirmed in June when the Buss family agreed to sell majority ownership to Dodgers owner Mark Walter in a deal valuing the franchise at approximately $10 billion.
Meanwhile, the Chargers, who share SoFi Stadium as tenants, ranked 21st on Sportico’s list with a valuation of $6.2 billion, a modest rise from last year.
How Teams Are Valued
Franchise valuations take into account not only team revenue but also related businesses and real estate holdings. David Carter, principal of The Sports Business Group and adjunct professor at USC, explained that valuations are generally based on multiples of annual revenue, along with future growth prospects.
“For Kroenke and the Rams, this has always meant monetizing SoFi in as many ways as possible, while positioning the venue as a global leader in sports and entertainment,” Carter said. “With a strong fan base and recent competitiveness, the conditions are in place for continued growth.”
Still, experts caution that published valuations don’t fully capture the realities of supply and demand. Carter noted that sales prices are often higher than reported estimates because of scarcity and bidding competition.
That scarcity has been evident: only three NFL teams have sold in the past decade — the Washington Commanders (2023), Denver Broncos (2022), and Carolina Panthers (2018).
Stability in Los Angeles
For the Rams, the valuation is less about a price tag and more about the franchise’s stability and success since returning to Los Angeles.
“As we enter our 10th season back in Los Angeles, Stan Kroenke’s vision to create the world’s greatest sports and entertainment district at Hollywood Park – and to build one of the NFL’s greatest stadiums – continues to help build the profile of the Rams and the NFL,” said Kevin Demoff, president of team and media operations for Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.
The ranking comes just a month after CNBC named Kroenke’s sports empire — which also includes the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, and Premier League’s Arsenal — the most valuable portfolio in global sports, at $21.2 billion.
