How Each U.S. Sports League Generates Revenue

What We’re Showing

This graphic shows the revenue breakdown of U.S. sports leagues, based on data from Sportico.

Revenue for the NFL and MLB is as of 2022, revenue for the NBA and NHL is for the 2022-2023 season, and revenue for the MLS is as of 2023.

Key Takeaways

• The NFL leads U.S. sports leagues in revenue, earning $18.7 billion, with the majority generated from media and broadcast deals, sponsorships, and other central revenue sources.
• The NBA generates a significant share of its central revenue from broadcast deals with ESPN and TNT.
• Compared to major sports leagues, the NHL makes the highest share of revenue from seating and suite sales, at 44%, due to less lucrative TV contracts.
• For the MLB, local media is a vital source of revenue, with an average 2.3 million viewers watching games on regional sports networks daily.