Arsenal FC: The world’s 21st most valuable sports property

21: Arsenal

Owner: Shareholders
Value: US$910 million

Arsenal Holdings PLC is listed on the specialist PLUS market. At the start of June, the company had a market capitalisation of UK£435.54 million; some US$699 million. Arsenal's board of directors currently own 45.2 per cent of the club's 62,217 shares.

The past year has seen an ownership battle develop between American sports tycoon Stan Kroenke, who owns the Denver Nuggets NBA franchise, and Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who is also president of the international fencing federation. Kroenke is currently the majority owner with a 28.3 per cent stake in the club while Usmanov, through his Red and White Holdings investment vehicle, owns just over 25 per cent. If either shareholder were to take their stake to 30 per cent, they would be obliged to make an offer for all the remaining shares.

Arsenal made a pre-tax operating profit of UK£36.7 million (US$59 million) on total revenues of UK£223 million (US$359 million). Matchday revenues, aided by the club's 2006 move to the 60,355-capacity Emirates Stadium, accounted for 45 per cent of the total figure.

8: Manchester United
27: Liverpool FC

The July/August issue of SportsPro magazine features an unprecedented report into the global sports industry, identifying and analysing the world's 200 most valuable sports properties. For more information about SportsPro magazine, click here.

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