F1 is a passionate and beloved sport that has its roots deep in Europe. While the sport has some roots set across Asia and other parts of the world, the United States of America remains a missing spot. Some recent insights from an F1 journalist suggest that perhaps F1 is doing wrong by not entering the US market, as the Dallas Cowboys’ $9 Billion authority showcases what’s possible for the sport and its teams.
With the Las Vegas Grand Prix set to help F1 in acquiring some much-needed US audience, F1 journalist, Joe Saward, has provided some quite interesting insights. There is no doubt that despite being a sport that stands for the pinnacle of motorsport, however, it’s quite really a business. And in a business, profitability is a key factor. And what better way to maximize the profits of a globally famous sport than following in the footsteps of the Dallas Cowboys?
Dallas Cowboys’ $9 billion worth proves F1’s potential in the US market
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The land of freedom, the United States of America, has one of the largest sports markets. In a country where NFL, basketball and baseball teams have mainly been dominating, their net worth proves how big of a market the US actually is. Moreover, thanks to Lionel Messi’s arrival and the USA being the hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There is an indication that America is evolving, and is open to more than just its traditional sports.
Joe Saward has perfectly weighted his opinion on this topic. In his blog, he states, “The biggest of the big league are the Dallas Cowboys NFL team, which is reckoned to be worth $9 billion. Those twiddly little New York Yankees, from the MLB are second, valued at only $7.1 billion. Both American football and baseball are fundamentally one market businesses, which gives a good indication of why F1 needs to be in the US market.”
I have been on the road again with my Green Notebookhttps://t.co/WV8J76X6np
— Joe Saward (@joesaward) October 31, 2023
Saward analysis perfectly highlights how big the US market truly is! While you’d think that the F1 teams are not way off in terms of net worth, you’ll be a bit shocked to know how big the difference truly is. Saward further compared the drastic difference in net worth and TV revenues between F1 and US sports.
He added, “The fact that the biggest F1 team is worth no more than $1.5 billion gives a clear indication that there is potential for more (a small correction – there are 4 teams worth over $1.5 bn with Ferrari nearing the $4 bn mark but no worries, even greats like Joe Saward can sometimes make a mistake.) And the TV rights revenues back this up. F1 made $780 million last year from TV revenues, the NFL recently concluded a 10-year $110 billion deal and the National Basketball Association (NBA) is hoping to land a new deal for the next decade at $75 billion.”
READ MORE: 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix Schedule – Where and When Is the F1 Race at The Sin City Strip?
Talk about some drastic difference in numbers! Could you imagine how much more F1 would have benefited from the US market had it been in it for a long time? One thing’s for sure, Daniel Ricciardo would have been a happy guy.
Why the Las Vegas Grand Prix is essential for F1’s business
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The upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix has been quite an anticipated race for quite some time. However, among traditional F1 purists, it is quite simply a race that no one asked for. Despite promising a thrilling race on a street circuit, the track simply goes against what F1 stands for as a sport. However, all that does not matter, because F1 is a business, and at the end of the day, they need to make money. A lot of money! And what better way of doing that than having a race in Las Vegas?
This is why the Las Vegas Grand Prix is essential for F1, in setting their foot truly onto the US market. Perhaps more events may be on the cards, considering how badly F1 wants to attain the US audience.
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WATCH THIS STORY | Rich History of F1 races in Las Vegas Throughout the Years
Joe Saward’s insights provide an amazing analysis of how the $9 billion value of the Dallas Cowboys envisioned to pave the way for F1 in the US. With the upcoming Las Vegas GP, this seems like a step in the right direction. It’ll be interesting to see how the sport evolves. Hopefully not at the cost of iconic races like the Brazilian Grand Prix or others. F1 wouldn’t be the same without such races.