Only One NFL Team Lost Money In 2012

tampadawgs

A new Forbes report indicates just how profitable the NFL has become. According to the study the average NFL team is worth $1.17 billion, and the most valuable team, the Dallas Cowboys, are worth an astounding $2.3 billion.

In that respect, it may be surprising to hear that not every NFL franchise operated at a surplus in 2012. In fact one team lost money.

Forbes reported that the Detroit Lions, who were valued at $900 million and took in $248 million in revenue last year, the only NFL franchise to do so. Under Forbes' formula, the Lions have lost money each of the last four seasons.

The Lions don't release financial information, so it's impossible to know exactly why the team has operated at a loss, but highest player payroll in the NFL last year ($118 million).

It's interesting to note that even though the Lions lost $3.5 million, they were still better off than the NHL champion Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks, one of the NHL's Original Six teams and its wire-to-wire best squad in the 2013 season, .

1. Dallas Cowboys: $2.3 billion ($250.7 million)
2. New England Patriots: $1.8 billion ($139.2 million)
3. Washington Redskins: $1.7 billion ($104.3 million)
4. New York Giants: $1.55 billion ($64.4 million)
5. Houston Texans: $1.45 billion ($81.5 million)
6. New York Jets: $1.38 billion ($52.8 million)
7. Philadelphia Eagles: $1.314 billion ($47.8 million)
8. Chicago Bears: $1.252 billion ($63.2 million)
9. Baltimore Ravens: $1.227 billion ($48.3 million)
10. San Francisco 49ers: $1.224 billion ($10.2 million)
11. Indianapolis Colts: $1.2 billion ($65 million)
12. Green Bay Packers: $1.183 billion ($54.3 million)
13. Denver Broncos: $1.161 billion ($31.7 million)
14. Pittsburgh Steelers: $1.118 billion ($28.3 million)
15. Seattle Seahawks: $1.081 billion ($28.2 million)
16. Miami Dolphins: $1.074 billion ($24.8 million)
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $1.067 billion ($2.2 million)
18. Carolina Panthers: $1.057 billion ($28.9 million)
19. Tennessee Titans: $1.055 billion ($40 million)
20. Kansas City Chiefs: $1.009 billion ($15 million)
21. Minnesota Vikings: $1.007 billion ($28 million)
22. Cleveland Browns: $1.005 billion ($17.1 million)
23. New Orleans Saints: $1.004 billion ($22.2 million)
24. Arizona Cardinals: $961 million ($9.7 million)
25. San Diego Chargers: $949 million ($30.4 million)
26. Atlanta Falcons: $933 million ($18.5 million)
27. Cincinnati Bengals: $924 million ($37.3 million)
28. Detroit Lions: $900 million (-$3.5 million)
29. St. Louis Rams: $875 million ($21.1 million)
30. Buffalo Bills: $870 million ($12.6 million)
31. Jacksonville Jaguars: $840 million ($15.5 million)
32. Oakland Raiders: $825 million ($19.1 million)

Soju

that city is in shambles

Tour2ma

Lions don't play in "that city". They play in the burbs, where the people (and money) are.

Just be glad our Browns and Indians and Cavs are still downtown.

The Gipper

@tour2ma said:

Lions don't play in "that city". They play in the burbs, where the people (and money) are.

Just be glad our Browns and Indians and Cavs are still downtown.

Yes, they do play in Detroit. It has been a number of years since they moved to Ford Field in downtown Detroit from the Silverdome out in Pontiac.

nickers

@the-gipper said:
Yes, they do play in Detroit. It has been a number of years since they moved to Ford Field in downtown Detroit from the Silverdome out in Pontiac.

Might be a good trivia ? naming domes past and present...

Tour2ma

@the-gipper said:
Yes, they do play in Detroit. It has been a number of years since they moved to Ford Field in downtown Detroit from the Silverdome out in Pontiac.

No wonder I could not find it last year...

The Gipper

@nickers said:

Might be a good trivia ? naming domes past and present...

Will you play?