I never really thought about it, but there’s an interesting debate between football and basketball when it comes to which makes more money. One would think, of course the NFL makes more, right? But, it isn’t as cut and dry as many think. The NFL and NBA both have very talented athletes, crazy-high salaries, and multi-billion dollar sponsorship deals, and you’d think the NFL would beat out the NBA in terms of money-making. But the surprising truth is, the NBA actually makes more money.
How is this possible? Well, first off, the NBA has a much wider audience outside of the United States than the NFL does. International fans buy merchandise, watch games online, and even attend international games, which, when compared to the NFL’s international fan base, is exponentially larger. Also, NFL games require the purchase of a TV package, while NBA fans can easily watch the games on League Pass. This makes the NBA more accessible and helps the league increase revenue.
Beyond that, the NBA is making amazing strides in the tech department. They’ve developed virtual reality games, plus the NBA’s cutting-edge app, which allows fans to watch games from anywhere. This type of technology is expensive, but it has paid off for the NBA. It’s estimated that the NBA revenue has grown an incredible 50 percent over the past five years.
So, while it seem like the NFL is the one to watch when it comes to the mega buck leagues, the NBA actually makes more money. I mean, can you even imagine a world where basketball out-earned football? Crazy! On the other hand, with the NFL bringing in over $2 Billion in advertising revenue, it’s definitely picking up the slack.
Speaking of ad revenue, despite the fact that the NBA makes more money, the NFL still has more open TV slots, which gives them the edge when it comes to ad revenue. Additionally, the league is full of iconic franchises such as the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, which have huge brand recognition.
It’s clear that both the NFL and NBA have plenty of business strategies in place to keep themselves in the green. It’s definitely a close one, but with the global advantage and technological advancement of the NBA, it looks like basketball fans can call this one!