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Ravens 12th Most Valuable Team, According To Forbes

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- While the Ravens may be the number one team for people in our area, they're doing pretty well when compared to the rest of the league.

Not in total fans, but rather, as Mike Schuh reports, in total value.

Eleven years ago, Steve Bisciotti bought the Baltimore Ravens for $600 million. Now the team is worth $1.5 billion. That's 12th best in the NFL.

Clearly, this is good for the owner--but what about the fans? The answer may surprise you.

"What that means is current ownership has the luxury of not having to charge more to fans for all kinds of things, including tickets, of course. They could do that, but the fact of the matter is the franchise is gaining value, even in the absence of that."

Being a recent Super Bowl winner helps. So does a good stadium deal.

Here are the NFL's top five most valuable teams, according to Forbes Magazine: Dallas is number one, followed by the Patriots, Redskins, the Giants and 49ers. All five increased in value.

"It's been an impressive few years for the NFL's performance. The Cowboys, they return as number one on the list, and their growth has expanded exponentially as well. So I think what you're viewing here is a lifting tide, as it were, lifting all boats," said Michael Runnels, associate professor, Loyola University Maryland.

So how do we stack up against our division? Pittsburgh is next at 13th best in the NFL. The Browns and Cincinnati are near the bottom, at 25th and 29th, respectively.

It takes an economist and season ticket holder to put it in perspective:

"The Pittsburgh Steelers, with all their history and their Super Bowls, are not as valuable as the Baltimore Ravens. If you're a very wealthy person in this world, you would rather buy the Baltimore Ravens. You're going to put more money up for that than for the Pittsburgh Steelers. And I think that's the way it should work out."

The Ravens will be looking for their first win of the year when they take on the Oakland Raiders this Sunday. You can see the game live at 4 p.m. on WJZ-TV.

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