Money Ball
Dallas Cowboys cash in as most valuable sports team in the world
Winning isn't everything, as the Dallas Cowboys are currently demonstrating. The football franchise hasn't been to a Super Bowl in more than 20 years, but the Cowboys are the No. 1 most valuable sports team in the world for 2016, according to Forbes.
America's Team knocks off some world favorites, namely soccer teams Real Madrid and Barcelona, for the title. Though Real Madrid technically has the highest revenue ($694 million during the 2014-15 season) and Barcelona has a billion-dollar deal with Nike, both teams fall millions short of the Cowboys' $4 billion value.
It's the first time a non-soccer club has reigned as the most valuable team since 2011, the first year Forbes compiled a top 50 list. Manchester United held the crown in 2011 and 2012 and Real Madrid sported it the last three years.
Owner Jerry Jones' marketing and the profits from the pricey AT&T Stadium in Arlington are the main reasons Forbes has the Cowboys at the top of the list.
They're not the only Lone Star team to make the cut. The Houston Texans, valued at $2.5 billion, and Houston Rockets, at $1.5 billion, come in at Nos. 14 and 47, respectively.
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