Everyone in Colorado knows the Denver Broncos are the top team in town and whoever is second depends on who is hot. So it’s no surprise that the Denver Nuggets coming second. But the third place team, at least in franchise value, according to Spotrac, comes as quite the shock and change.
The Colorado Avalanche are now worth more than the Colorado Rockies.
According to Sportico’s latest cross-league valuation data released today, the Avalanche check in at $1.81 billion — good for 103rd among the 154 major men’s professional sports franchises in North America. The Rockies, meanwhile, sit at $1.68 billion, ranking 109th overall.
It’s a striking flip for a baseball franchise that has historically commanded a premium simply by virtue of being in MLB, a league with an average team value of $3.17 billion — 50% higher than the NHL’s $2.1 billion average. Yet the Rockies now find themselves $130 million behind their hockey counterparts.
The Broncos remain king at $6.55 billion (22nd overall), followed by the Nuggets at $4.8 billion (53rd). The Colorado Rapids bring up the rear at $450 million, ranking 152nd, third worst in all of pro sports.
What’s driving the Avs’ surge? The NHL has seen franchise values rise 17% year-over-year, and Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup championship—plus sustained playoff relevance — has kept the brand hot. You also have to consider Kroenke Sports & Entertainment owns their venue, Ball Arena, and the area around. Coors Field is owned by the corporate subdivision of a political body known as Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium District. Though the Monforts own a bunch of buildings and business near the stadium too, those may not have been factored into this data.
From a sporting side: the Rockies have continue to struggle with poor on-field performance and have even seen their incredible attendance dip slightly while their regional TV money has dried up compared to the Avs, who own their own network. The lack of wins has limited the Rockies growth potential despite the league’s overall 12% value increase this year. But a slightly deeper dive shows many baseball teams outside the bigger markets struggling compared to smaller-market franchises in other sports. And that’s why we may see a labor stoppage next year in baseball.
For now, at least on paper, the burgundy and blue have overtaken the purple.