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Sports have been an important pastime for players, fans and coaches alike for several centuries. Over time, businesses began to capitalize on the ability to make money off jersey sales, ticket sales, concessions, etc. This fact alone would create the top 5 professional sports leagues by revenue that we know to this day.
The battle of major sports leagues now takes place, and we know you’re curious as to which of the top professional sports leagues make the most money. That’s why, in this article, we listed the top five professional sports leagues by revenue based on data gathered from the 2022-2023 calendar year. This includes each major league, the country it takes place in and how much revenue the league generates in the billions.
Starting our list of top five professional sports leagues by revenue is one of four American-based leagues on this list, the NHL. In the 2022 to 2023 season, 32 NHL teams played exactly 1,400 matches, generating close to $6.4 billion from all collective efforts.
The American-Canadian joint league would be completely overshadowed by its basketball, baseball and football competitors, but still making $ 6.4 billion in revenue is no easy task, which is why the NHL is one of the top five professional sports leagues by revenue.
Next up is the only English/European-based league on this list, the United Kingdom’s English Premier League. Founded in 1992, the league’s numbers would be completely on the rise, generating over $7 billion in USD from the 2021-2022 season.
From 2022 until now, we have to consider the multiple international soccer tournaments that occur around the same time as the EPL, such as the 2022 World Cup, the 2024 Copa America, as well as the 2024 Euros, which completely affect the English soccer schedule. Overall $7+ billion and growing, making the English Premier one of the top five professional sports leagues by revenue.
The second American-Canadian joint league on this list, making a whopping $10.6 billion in revenue, is none other than the NBA. This league was on the rise for a long time, since 1946 to be exact, and through careful budgeting and planning, it would gain 30 teams and mass a whole lot of revenue.
As of 2020 data, NBA players were considered the world’s best-paid athletes by annual salary per player, although this statistic could be affected by the league’s smaller roster sizes (think compared to the NFL or MLB). Still, some of the player’s pay might have to do with how successful the league is, considering $10.6 billion in revenue gives you plenty for player wages.
What league other than the old-time MLB would take the number two spot on the list of the top five professional sports leagues by revenue? Founded in 1876, it’s no surprise this league has a working business model together by now.
If you thought basketball was money-printer, add $1 billion more in revenue to baseball, with the MLB generating around $11.6 billion in its 2022-2023 season alone. Even though this amount would put the MLB in the top five professional sports leagues by revenue, it’s still far from the number one spot, which is nothing to be ashamed of.
Last but not least, by any margin, is America’s National Football League. The amount of revenue this League generates is baffling, and it could have to do with how well their advertisement system is set up. From its 1920 creation, now with 32 teams and two divisions, the league generates almost more revenue than the MLB and NBA combined, totaling $18.6 billion revenue in the 2022-2023 season, which is an astonishing feat.
Overall, there’s no other league in America, or the world for that matter, that generates more money than the NFL, making it the top professional sports league by revenue in the modern era.
Liam has been a major sports fan and soccer player for over a decade, with a particular focus on major top-level soccer leagues, including the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and MLS. He has written numerous promotional articles for various top sportsbooks and continues to publish historical and factual sports articles covering the NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB, EPL and more.