SO YOU WANT TO OWN A SPORTS TEAM? WELL, HERE'S THE SKINNY

          In BUSINESS WEEK's "Personal Business" section, Dennis
     Berman examines the procuring of pro sports teams, and
     writes, "all told, nearly 60 smaller leagues operate in
     traditional sports such as baseball and hockey, and in
     growing niches including bicycling and roller hockey." 
     While "few teams clear an annual profit ... that doesn't
     mean ownership is always a financial dead end."  Teams in a
     "popular league" will usually appreciate in value, even if
     they're not "profitable."  BUSINESS WEEK lists the average
     price and operating cost of franchises in the CBA, National
     Lacrosse League (NLL), Professional Bicycle League (PBL) and
     the Roller Hockey League (RHL) (BUSINESS WEEK, 9/22).
 
     

  
 
    
 
      
LEAGUE 
        AVG. NEW TEAM PRICE AVG. ANNUAL OPERATING COST
    
  
  
 
    
CBA
    
 
      
$1M
    
    
 
      
$1.7M
    
  
  
 
    
NLL
    
 
      
$250,000 
        
    
    
 
      
$700,000 
        
    
  
  
 
    
PBL
    
 
      
$50,000 
        
    
    
 
      
$100,000 
        
    
  
  
 
    
RHI
    
 
      
$500,000 
        
    
    
 
      
$700,000