Article

Professional sports firm values: bringing new determinants to the foreground? A study of European soccer, 2005-2013

Liliane Bonnal, Christophe Durand, Boris Helleu, and Nicolas Scelles

Abstract

Since 2004, Forbes has proposed a list of the most valuable soccer clubs. One year later, Transfermarkt began to estimate European soccer players’ value. This article estimate the determinants of firm values in European soccer over the period 2005-2013 incorporating player valuations, clubs’ operating income, and new ownership, three variables not included previously. The results of this study demonstrate that these variables are significant factors in club valuations. More generally, club assets including stadium age, club ownership type, supporter numbers and income, and past sports performances all have a significant impact.

Keywords

club value; player value; operating income; new ownership; European socce; Forbes; Transfermarkt;

Reference

Liliane Bonnal, Christophe Durand, Boris Helleu, and Nicolas Scelles, Professional sports firm values: bringing new determinants to the foreground? A study of European soccer, 2005-2013, Journal of Sports Economics, June 17, 2014.

Published in

Journal of Sports Economics, June 17, 2014