Sky‑high NFL/NBA valuations draw buyers to smaller leagues like the NWSL
High prices for NFL and NBA teams, driven by massive media-rights deals, are pushing investors to cheaper, smaller leagues like the NWSL. Expansion fees for new NWSL teams have surged (Columbus at $205M, up from earlier multi‑million marks), while overall league valuations climb to record levels. Private‑equity groups and consortium buyers are chasing these “second‑tier” sports as a way to gain exposure, causing bidding wars even as some bankers warn the underlying economics may not support such prices. The trend is underscored by record MLB sales and the broader value surge across professional sports, with little payoff in some women's leagues like the WNBA/NWSL aligned with new player deals, raising questions about long‑term profitability.)
