At $7 billion, the Golden State Warriors are the NBA’s most valuable franchise.
The Warriors’ valuation, according to Forbes, increased by 25% from last year.
It’s the first time since Forbes began valuing NBA franchises that a team other than the New York Knicks or Los Angeles Lakers has held the top spot. Last year, Forbes valued the Knicks the highest and estimated Warriors were worth $5.6 billion.
The Knicks ($6.1 billions) and Lakers ($5.9 billion) take second and third place on the 2022 list. The average NBA team is worth $2.86 billion, a 15% annual increase.
Much of the Warriors’ cash comes from the Chase Center — the $1.5 billion project that opened in 2019.
The 2021-22 season was the first in which the Warriors could fill the new arena with fans. It ended triumphantly, with Golden State’s fourth title in the past eight years.
Forbes noted that the Warriors made an NBA record $150 million from arena sponsorships and advertising, which was double any other franchise. GSW also raked in $250 million from premium seating, per Forbes.
Warriors games are the most expensive in the nation; one analysis from last year estimated a family of four would pay $570 for tickets alone ($142 per person) if they sought the most affordable options.
The Chase Center seats 18,064 fans, and all 41 regular season home games were sold out last year, per ESPN. Four rounds of playoff games, with skyrocketing prices, only added to revenues.
It all added up to $206 million in operating income — profit — for the year, the most in the Association. Owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber haven’t shied away from paying the luxury tax, and they’ve done so from a position of absolute strength.
