There was a day not too long ago when the Raiders would be happy with being the 29th most valuable team in the NFL. Those days, however, are long gone.
Predictably, the move to Las Vegas has been a jackpot for team owner Mark Davis.
Forbes just released its annual sport franchise valuation list and they report that the move to Las Vegas is paying off big for Davis. Forbes has the Raiders valued as the 29th most valuable sports team in the world, worth a whopping $3.1 billion.
Yes, Davis’ team is worth $3.1 billion.
The Raiders are now the 12th most valuable team in the NFL. Their value has skyrocketed 117 percent in the past five years. The team began the process to move to Las Vegas four years ago and relocated to the Nevada desert from Oakland last year. In Oakland, the Raiders were routinely the lowest valued or near the bottom of Forbes’ list.
The beautiful new Allegiant Stadium, just off the Vegas Strip, is a huge reason for the Raiders’ rise in value. Only the Los Angeles Rams and Golden State Warriors have had higher value increases in the past five years.
Davis is sitting pretty for sure after this move. So, the next time you hear stories of Davis not being able to pay free agents signing bonus money, remember this: $3.1 billion.