New Houston Astros player Tatsuya Imai (Image Source: Getty) The financial status of MLB has been very different for two of its teams located in the American League West, the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels. While both teams are valuable, the differences in team values demonstrate that they provide value to MLB’s community and to other revenue sources derived from their operations, including ticket sales, food and beverage sales, etc. Although the Astros hold a slight advantage over the Angels in team value, the Houston and Los Angeles franchises remain significantly less valuable than most other MLB teams.
How the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels valuations compare in Major League Baseball
The Houston Astros, according to the list of MLB team valuations recently published by Forbes, are estimated to have a total valuation of around $2.8 billion, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California are valued at approximately $2.75 billion, a difference of $50 million or so, but despite these differences, both clubs have similar regional profiles and sizes in the respective markets which both clubs occupy.The Astros have demonstrated greater revenue growth and brand value in recent years than the Angels have, as evidenced by their continued increase in enterprise value relative to the Angels in the highly competitive environment of America’s favourite pastime.
Broader context on MLB team valuations and what it means for the division
Despite the fact that the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels occupy a position in the broader landscape of Major League Baseball (MLB) valuations at the bottom of the scale, behind teams like the New York Yankees ($8.2 billion) and Los Angeles Dodgers ($6.8 billion). This indicates the great economic divide that exists in professional baseball, which has a negative impact on player payrolls, media rights agreements, and all types of investments made by teams in facilities, talent, and fan experience. The continued increase in franchise valuations across the league creates an even greater financial disparity within a given division, such as the American League West, due to differences in market potential and available revenue streams.