[Albion] 24th most valuable club
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Inter Miami worth more than Inter Milan. 
It's a Forbes list.
More: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy5e91y0k1lo
It's a Forbes list.
More: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy5e91y0k1lo
US Seagull
Well-known member
We're number 24! We're number 24!
You'll never sing that
You'll never sing that
Mustafa II
Well-known member
Brighton & Hove Albion’s rise from near-oblivion to being ranked the 24th most valuable football club in the world is one of the most remarkable footballing transformations of the 21st century. Let’s break it down chronologically, comparing their likely global status at key milestones:
They were a small club in the lower leagues, had no real assets (not even a stadium), and barely avoided financial ruin. At that point, many semi-professional clubs around the world would have had more operational stability.
Still not globally relevant, but infrastructure, ambition, and financial backing put them in a strong position relative to most second-tier clubs worldwide.
1. Division Three, No Stadium (Late 1990s – Early 2000s)
Context:- Homeless after leaving the Goldstone Ground in 1997.
- Ground-sharing at Gillingham and later at the Withdean Stadium (an athletics track).
- On the brink of relegation to the Conference in 1997.
- Financially unstable and reliant on supporter activism to survive.
- ~2,500th–3,500th out of 4,000 clubs.
- Value: Minimal. Revenue extremely low, almost no global recognition, no TV income, minimal commercial deals.
They were a small club in the lower leagues, had no real assets (not even a stadium), and barely avoided financial ruin. At that point, many semi-professional clubs around the world would have had more operational stability.
2. Amex Stadium Opens (2011)
Context:- The American Express Community Stadium (Amex) opens in Falmer.
- Championship football with a new, modern home.
- Start of Tony Bloom’s investment and long-term vision.
- Growing attendances, strong local engagement, improving facilities.
- ~300th–500th globally.
- Value: Rising. Revenue significantly boosted by stadium income, corporate sponsorship, and competitive Championship football.
Still not globally relevant, but infrastructure, ambition, and financial backing put them in a strong position relative to most second-tier clubs worldwide.
3. Present Day (Premier League era, 2023–2025)
Context:- Premier League regulars since 2017.
- Reached Europe (UEFA Europa League, 2023–24).
- Renowned for elite recruitment and development model (e.g., Caicedo, Mac Allister, Mitoma).
- Global fanbase growth and media exposure.
- Consistently profitable transfer strategy and increasing commercial deals.
- 24th most valuable club in the world
(According to recent Forbes, Deloitte, or Football Benchmark rankings)
- Premier League status brings massive global broadcasting revenue.
- Smart operations and sustainable growth model.
- High stadium occupancy and global commercial partners (e.g., American Express, Nike).
Summary: BHAFC’s Value Trajectory
| Era | Rank (est.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Division Three, no stadium (c. 1997–2001) | ~2,500th–3,500th | Near collapse, barely professional infrastructure. |
| Amex opens, Championship club (2011) | ~300th–500th | Infrastructure and ambition in place, regional relevance. |
| Premier League club, 2024 ranking | 24th | Elite model club, globally known, strong brand, sustainable success. |
Thank you Tony
dadams2k11
ID10T Error
Reads like a FM25 forum post.
Small quibble.
We were not on the brink of relegation to the conference in 97.
We were on the brink of oblivion.
The conference would not have allowed us to groundshare with Gillingham.
Relegation would have pushed us down to a nothing league.
- Nov 15, 2006
- 7,063
Yep it would almost certainly meant starting again at the bottom of the pyramid imo, much like Wimbledon.
I'm not sure ChatGPT needs me to stick up for him, but the opening line did mention "near oblivion"
- Oct 19, 2003
- 20,042
Someone should make a film about it!!
It may have done somewhere but not in the text that would have been relevant. Unless our near oblivion occurred at some other time..... This is ChatGPT having some of the facts but not using them appropriately. Which is why (possibly AI generated) essays I mark get lower grades
:Also 'barely avoided financial ruin' makes us sound like Sheffield Wednesday...
1. Division Three, No Stadium (Late 1990s – Early 2000s)
Context:- Homeless after leaving the Goldstone Ground in 1997.
- Ground-sharing at Gillingham and later at the Withdean Stadium (an athletics track).
- On the brink of relegation to the Conference in 1997.
- Financially unstable and reliant on supporter activism to survive.
- ~2,500th–3,500th out of 4,000 clubs.
- Value: Minimal. Revenue extremely low, almost no global recognition, no TV income, minimal commercial deals.
They were a small club in the lower leagues, had no real assets (not even a stadium), and barely avoided financial ruin. At that point, many semi-professional clubs around the world would have had more operational stability.
Is it known as a fact that the club wouldn't have been able to share with Gillingham?
It is known to me.....but maybe it isn't well known. It is certainly a fact.
That's the thing about AI. It creates a narrative from the most common of knowledge and the most repeated tropes, whether correct or relevant, and once a plausible narrative is created....
This is why my final year essay questions cannot be written by AI to obtain much over 40% (a bare pass).
I include bespoke information and nuance in my lectures and this is not curated on the internet.
GloryDays
Well-known member
8 US teams in there. How is this list determined exactly? Not sure by what metric Seattle are more valuable than Napoli or Ajax.
Not arguing that there isn’t a legitimate one, but how much this means irl is a different matter. Like fans caring about winning the net spend trophy. Good for Tony tho.
Not arguing that there isn’t a legitimate one, but how much this means irl is a different matter. Like fans caring about winning the net spend trophy. Good for Tony tho.
I'm sure that @Dullard will be able to explain this better.
But my stab in the dark is that the US franchise model is far more profitable for football club owners than other models across the planet. The US model seems to be more money making oriented as you would expect in the US. I'd guess that a much higher share of the % profit goes to owners rather than playing staff.
GloryDays
Well-known member
Yeah. Also wasn’t sure about assets and how they are factored in. For example real estate and land in NYC, LA, etc may be more valuable that the equivalent in Eindhoven, Naples or even Riyyad. Hard to know what contributes to this overall score.
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