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In January 2009, Stephen Ross completed a year long transaction with H. Wayne Huizenga to becoem the principle owner of the Miami Dolphins. Ross paid $1.1 billion for the team, Dolphins Stadium, and the land surrounding the stadium.
In 2012, Forbes estimated the value of the Dolphins at just $1.01 billion, putting Ross' purchase three years later at a loss. The good news for Ross is, the Dolphins gained value from 2012 to 2013, with Forbes estimating the team's value at $1.06 billion this year. However, the value actually saw the Dolphins fall from the 22nd most valuable franchise in the world to the 25th.
Of the ranking, Forbes wrote:
Attendance is down the past two seasons at Sun Life Stadium as fans have endured four straight losing seasons. State legislators rejected public funding for a $350 million proposed renovation to Sun Life Stadium this year. Miami is unlikely to host another Super Bowl without stadium renovations.
The stadium is holding down the value for the Dolphins, who say three NFL teams vault over them in value this year, down from a 12th ranking last year to 15th most valuable NFL franchise in 2013. Included in that group of teams leaping Miami are the San Francisco 49ers, who were 26th overall and 15th in the NFL in 2012 at just $990 million but landed at 17th overall and 9th in the NFL this year, at a value of $1.175 billion.
The 49ers made the Super Bowl last year, and, more importantly for team value, have a brand new stadium being built.
The Dallas Cowboys were the most valuable NFL team, fifth overall, at $2.1 billion. Around the AFC East, the New England Patriots were sixth overall (2nd in NFL, $1.635 billion), the New York Jets 14th (6th in NFL, $1.284 billion), and the Buffalo Bills were 46th overall (30th in NFL, $805 million). The NFL landed 15 teams in the top 25.