Manchester United overtaken by New York Yankees as world's most valuable sports brand in Forbes list

Manchester United have lost their status as the most valuable team brand in world sport after being overtaken in the Forbes Fab 40 by the New York Yankees.

By Mark Ogden 04 October 2011 • 1:05pm

Bases covered: shortstop Derek Jeter plays for the most valuable team barnd the New York Yankees Credit: Photo: REUTERS

United, who were named in July by the respected American business magazine Forbes as the world’s richest sports team with a calculated wealth of £1.65bn, have slipped to second place in the brand ranking, with the Yankees’ value rated at £221m ($340m) compared to United’s estimated brand worth of £175m ($269m).

Although Forbes claims that United would have held onto their position as the world’s most valuable sports brand but for the increasing strength of the US dollar against the pound.

The loss of the club’s status, held since 2007, as the most powerful brand in global sport comes at a time when the Glazer family are attempting to raise £600m from a partial flotation of the club on the Singapore Stock Market.

In their most recent financial accounts, for the year ending Jun 30, United posted record operating profits of £110.8m and 15.7 per cent rise in turnover £331.4m.

The club‘s net debt, imposed by the Glazers following their leveraged takeover in May 2005, currently stands at £308m.

The Yankees have surpassed United in the Forbes list, however, after seeing their brand value increase by 57 per cent since 2007.

Regarded as the most recognisable sporting franchise in the United States, the Yankees saw revenues at their newly-built $1.54bn Yankee Stadium rocket to $325m in 2010 due to lucrative sponsorship deals with Pepsi, Bank of America, Mastercard and Delta Airlines.

Despite the financial power of American sports, football clubs dominate the top ten, with United narrowly ahead of third-placed Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Arsenal and AC Milan make up the rest of the football clubs in the top ten, which is listed within the Fab 40, a collection of the most dominant events, athletes, teams and associated organisations in sport.

Sportswear giant Nike is ranked as the most valuable brand in sport overall with an estimated total worth of £9.75bn ($15bn), with the Superbowl (£276m / $425m) the leading event, ahead of the Summer Olympics and Fifa World Cup.

Tiger Woods, despite his much-publicised problems away from the golf course, remains the most valuable athlete brand at £35.7m ($55m), ahead of Roger Federer and Phil Mickelson.

David Beckham is the highest-placed footballer in the list, with an estimated brand value of £13m ($20m).

The Forbes list of the World’s Most Valuable Sports Brands