The NFL's bottom line: Profits to make your eyes water

The biggest cash cow in US sports kicks off this weekend, with the start of American Football's road to the Superbowl. With revenue through the roof and profits to make your eyes water. NFL franchises are worth around $4.45 billion on average.

The 32-team NFL is divided into 16-team AFC and NFC conferences, each with four divisions.

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS.

Valuation: $3.9 billion (19th).

Principal owner: Steve Bisciotti.

Home venue: M&T Bank Stadium (70,745).

Average attendance 2021: 70,537.

Arena operator: In-house franchise operation on behalf of Maryland Stadium Authority Stadium naming rights partner: M&T Bank (US$6 million a year, signed 2017, expires 2027).

Social media following: 5.8 million.

CINCINNATI BENGALS.

Valuation: $3 billion (32nd).

Principal owner: Michael Brown.

Home venue: Paycor Stadium (65,515).

Average attendance 2021: 60,325.

Arena operator: In-house operation on behalf of Hamilton County, Ohio.

Stadium naming rights partner: Paycor (up to US$10 million per year, signed 2022, expires 2038).

Social media following: 3.7 million.

CLEVELAND BROWNS.

Valuation: $3.85 billion (21st).

Principal owner: Dee and Jimmy Haslam.

Home venue: FirstEnergy Stadium (67,431).

Average attendance 2021: 67,431.

Arena operator: In-house franchise operation on behalf of the City of Cleveland.

Stadium naming rights partner: FirstEnergy (US$6 million a year, signed 2013, expires 2029).

Social media following: 4.4 million.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS.

Valuation: $3.975 billion (17th).

Principal owner: Rooney family.

Home venue: Acrisure Stadium (68,400).

Average attendance 2021: 60,488.

Arena operator: Dual tenant operation with the University of Pittsburgh on behalf of Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

Stadium naming rights partner: Acrisure (‘more than’ $10 million per year, signed 2022, expires 2037).

Social media following: 13.1 million.

AFC East.

BUFFALO BILLS.

Valuation: $3.4 billion (29th).

Principal owner: Terry and Kim Pegula.

Home venue: Highmark Stadium (71,608).

Average attendance 2021: 67,816.

Arena operator: Pegula Sports and Entertainment.

Stadium naming rights partner: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York (value not reported, signed 2021, expires 2031).

Social media following: 3.5 million.

MIAMI DOLPHINS.

Valuation: $4.6 billion (13th).

Principal owner: Stephen Ross.

Home venue: Hard Rock Stadium (64,767).

Average attendance 2021: 64,374.

Arena operator: Franchise owned and operated.

Stadium naming rights partner: Hard Rock ($250 million total, signed 2016, expires 2034).

Social media following: 4.7 million.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.

Valuation: $6.4 billion (2nd).

Principal owner: Robert Kraft.

Home venue: Gillette Stadium (65,878).

Average attendance 2021: 65,878.

Arena operator: Kraft Group Stadium.

Naming rights partner: Gillette ($8 million per year, extended 2010, expires 2031).

Social media following: 16.4 million.

NEW YORK JETS.

Valuation: $5.4 billion (7th).

Principal owners: Johnson family.

Home venue: MetLife Stadium (82,500).

Average attendance 2021: 71,676.

Arena operator: MetLife Stadium Company.

Stadium naming rights partner: MetLife (Up to US$20 million per year, signed 2011, expires 2036).

Social media following: 4 million

AFC South.

HOUSTON TEXANS.

Valuation: $4.7 billion (11th).

Principal owner: Janice McNair.

Home venue: NRG Stadium (72,220).

Average attendance 2021: 66,811.

Arena operator: ASM Global.

Stadium naming rights partner: NRG ($300 million total, signed 2000, expires 2032).

Social media following: 5.4 million.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS.

Valuation: $3.8 billion (22nd).

Principal owner: James Irsay.

Home venue: Lucas Oil Stadium (67,000).

Average attendance 2021: 62,475.

Arena operator: Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County, Indiana.

Stadium naming rights partner: Lucas Oil ($6.1 million a year, signed 2006, expires 2026).

Social media following: 4.2 million.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS.

Valuation: $3.475 billion (28th).

Principal owner: Shahid Khan.

Home venue: TIAA Bank Field (67,814).

Average attendance 2021: 59,968.

Arena operator: ASM Global.

Stadium naming rights partner: TIAA Bank (Original $43 million deal signed in 2014 by EverBank, name changed 2018, deal expires 2024) Social media following: 2.1 million.

TENNESSEE TITANS.

Valuation: $3.5 billion (27th).

Principal owner: Amy Adams Strunk.

Home venue: Nissan Stadium (69,143).

Average attendance 2021: 68,566.

Arena operator: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.

Stadium naming rights partner: Nissan (value not reported, signed 2015, expires 2035).

Social media following: 2.8 million.

AFC West.

DENVER BRONCOS.

Valuation: $4.65 billion (12th).

Principal owner: Rob Walton.

Home venue: Empower Field at Mile High (76,125).

Average attendance 2021: 76,236.

Arena operator: Stadium Management Company.

Stadium naming rights partner: Empower Retirement ($5 million a year, signed 2019, expires 2039).

Social media following: 8.2 million.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS.

Valuation: $3.7 billion (23rd).

Principal owner: Hunt family.

Home venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (76,416).

Average attendance 2021: 73,227.

Arena operator: In-house franchise operation on behalf of the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.

Stadium naming rights partner: GEHA (value not reported, signed 2021, expires 2031).

Social media following: 6.5m.

Las VEGAS RAIDERS.

Valuation: S$5.1 billion (9th).

Principal owner: Mark Davis.

Home venue: Allegiant Stadium (65,000).

Average attendance 2021: 61,185.

Arena operator: AEG Facilities.

Stadium naming rights partner: Allegiant ($20 million to US$25 million a year, signed 2019, expires 2030.

Social media following: 7.4 million.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS.

Valuation: $3.875 billion (20th).

Principal owner: Dean Spanos.

Home venue: Sofi Stadium (70,240).

Average attendance 2021: 70,240.

Arena operator: StadCo LA, LLC.

Stadium naming rights partner: Social Finance ($30 million per year, signed 2019, expires 2040).

Social media following: 3.6 million.

NFC North.

CHICAGO BEARS.

Valuation: $5.8 billion (5th).

Principal owner: McCaskey family.

Home venue: Soldier Field (61,500).

Average attendance 2021: 60,834.

Arena operator: ASM Global.

Stadium naming rights partner: N/A.

Social media following: 7.4 million.

DETROIT LIONS.

Valuation: $3.05 billion (31st).

Principal owner: Sheila Ford Hamp.

Home venue: Ford Field (65,000).

Average attendance 2021: 51,522.

Arena operator: In-house franchise operation on behalf of Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority.

Stadium naming rights partner: Ford Motor Company ($40 million, signed 1996, expires 2022).

Social media following: 4.2 million.

GREEN BAY PACKERS.

Valuation: $4.25 billion (15th).

Principal owner: Shareholder-owned.

Home venue: Lambeau Field (81,441).

Average attendance 2021: 77,991.

Arena operator: In-house franchise operation on behalf of the City of Green Bay and Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District.

Stadium naming rights partner: N/A.

Social media following: 10.3 million.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS.

Valuation: $3.925 billion (18th).

Principal owner: Wilf family.

Home venue: US Bank Stadium (66,860).

Average attendance 2021: 66,701.

Arena operator: ASM Global

Stadium naming rights partner: US Bank ($8.8 million a year, signed 2015, expires 2040).

Social media following: 4.9 million.

NFC East.

DALLAS COWBOYS.

Valuation: $8 billion (1st).

Principal owner: Jerry Jones.

Home venue: AT&T Stadium (100,000).

Average attendance 2021: 93,421.

Arena operator: In-house operation on behalf of the City of Arlington.

Stadium naming rights partner: AT&T ($17 million to US$19 million per year, signed 2013, duration not reported).

Social media following: 17 million.

NEW YORK GIANTS.

Valuation: $6 billion (4th).

Principal owners: John Mara and Steve Tisch.

Home venue: MetLife Stadium (82,500).

Average attendance 2021: 73,882.

Arena operator: MetLife Stadium Company.

Stadium naming rights partner: MetLife (Up to $20 million per year, signed 2011, expires 2036).

Social media following: 8.2 million.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES.

Valuation: $4.9 billion (10th).

Principal owner: Jeffrey Lurie.

Home venue: Lincoln Financial Field (69,879).

Average attendance 2021: 69,796.

Arena operator: In-house franchise operation on behalf of the City of Philadelphia.

Stadium naming rights partner: Lincoln Financial ($12 million a year, extension signed 2018, expires 2032).

Social media following: 9.1 million.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS.

Valuation: $5.6 billion (6th).

Principal owner: Daniel Snyder.

Home venue: FedExField (67,717).

Average attendance 2021: 52,751.

Arena operator: Franchise owned and operated.

Stadium naming rights partner: FedEx ($205 million, signed 1999, expires 2025).

Social media following: 4.3 million.

NFC South.

ATLANTA FALCONS.

Valuation: $4 billion (16th).

Principal owner: Arthur Blank.

Home venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (71,000).

Average attendance 2021: 67,586.

Arena operator: AMB Sports and Entertainment Group.

Stadium naming rights partner: Mercedes-Benz ($324 million total, signed 2017, expires 2044).

Social media following: 5.7 million.

CAROLINA PANTHERS.

Valuation: $3.6 billion (25th).

Principal owner: David Tepper.

Home venue: Bank of America Stadium (74,867).

Average attendance 2021: 71,906.

Arena operator: Panthers Stadium LLC.

Stadium naming rights partner: Bank of America ($7 million a year, signed 2004, expires 2024).

Social media following: 7.2 million.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS.

Valuation: $3.575 billion (26th).

Principal owner: Gayle Benson.

Home venue: Caesar’s Superdome (73,208).

Average attendance 2021: 64,929.

Arena operator: ASM Global.

Stadium naming rights partner: Caesars Entertainment ($138 million, signed 2021, expires 2041).

Social media following: 7.6 million.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS.

Valuation: $3.675 billion (24th).

Principal owner: Glazer family.

Home venue: Raymond James Stadium (65,618).

Average attendance 2021: 65,372.

Arena operator: Tampa Sports Authority.

Stadium naming rights partner: Raymond James Financial ($3.2 million per year, signed 2016, expires 2027).

Social media following: 4 million.

NFC West.

ARIZONA CARDINALS.

Valuation: $3.27 billion (30th).

Principal owner: Michael Bidwill.

Home venue: State Farm Stadium (63,400).

Average attendance 2021: 62,622.

Arena operator: ASM Global.

Stadium naming rights partner: State Farm (value not reported, signed 2018, expires 2036).

Social media following: 3.7 million.

LOS ANGELES RAMS.

Valuation: $6.2 billion (3rd).

Principal owner: Stan Kroenke.

Home venue: Sofi Stadium (70,240).

Average attendance 2021: 70,240.

Arena operator: StadCo LA, LLC.

Stadium naming rights partner: Social Finance ($30 million a year, signed 2019, expires 2040).

Social media following: 3.8 million.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS.

Valuation: $5.2 billion (8th).

Principal owners: Denise DeBartolo York, John York.

Home venue: Levi’s Stadium (68,500).

Average attendance 2021: 66,670.

Arena operator: Santa Clara Stadium Authority.

Stadium naming rights partner: Levi’s ($220 million, signed 2013, expires 2024).

Social media following: 9 million.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS.

Valuation: $4.5 billion (14th).

Principal owner: Paul G Allen Trust.

Home venue: Lumen Field (68,740).

Average attendance 2021: 68,408.

Arena operator: First & Goal Inc.

Stadium naming rights partner: Lumen ($162.7 million, extension signed 2019, expires 2033).

Social media following: 9.5 million.

*Source: Forbes