We're sure you were up all night dreaming away about what you could buy with your $1.5 billion in lottery winnings. Ever dreamt about buying a sports team with your winnings? Read on to find out which one you could afford. You might even have a little leftover for a nice new pair of Jimmy Choos.
Rolling in the dough,
The LNG Team
Buy me a sports team
- Talk about window shopping. Have you ever wondered what it would cost to buy a sports team? We've compiled a list of teams you could buy with your $1.5 billion lottery winnings. We’re not your tax people so consult your tax consultant beforehand as you know Uncle Sam will want a piece of your dough (but that’s not part of our fantasy so we’re sticking with the $1.5 billion).
MLB (Major League Baseball)
There are 24 teams you could call your own. Just a few to note:
- St. Louis Cardinals ($1.4 billion)
- New York Mets ($1.3 billion)
- Los Angeles Angels ($1.3 billion)
- Washington Nationals ($1.2 billion)
- Cheapest team - Tampa Bay Rays ($625 million)
- Most expensive - New York Yankees ($3.2 billon)
MLS (Major League Soccer)
You could have your pick of the litter and buy any team you’d like. We’ll take two.
- Cheapest team - Colorado Rapids ($105 million)
- Most expensive - Seattle Sounders ($225 million)
NBA (National Basketball Association)
There are 23 teams that you could afford (heck even a few after they take out the taxes). Some you may have heard of:
- Golden State Warriors ($1.3 billion)
- Miami Heat ($1.2 billion)
- San Antonio Spurs ($1 billion)
- Cleveland Cavaliers ($915 million)
- Cheapest team - Milwaukee Bucks ($600 million)
- Most expensive - Los Angeles Lakers ($2.6 billion)
NFL (National Football League)
There are seven teams in your price range. The most notable are:
- Cleveland Browns ($1.5 billion)
- St Louis Rams ($1.45 billion)
- Oakland Raiders ($1.43 billion)
- Cheapest team - Buffalo Bills ($1.4 billion)
- Most expensive - Dallas Cowboys ($3.2 billion)
NHL (National Hockey League)
You could skate on the ice in any of these cites.
- Cheapest team - Florida Panthers ($185 million)
- Most expensive - New York Rangers ($1.2 billion)
We can dream. The world's most expensive sports franchise is soccer team Real Madrid, valued at $3.26 billion.
(Source for all the team’s valuations – forbes.com)
NCAA Basketball (College)
- And you thought you had a bad night. #1 Kansas was upset last night by #11 West Virginia, 74-63.
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- The end is near. All-star voting ends January 18th. Vote now for your favorite players.
NFL(National Football League)
- 2Pac would be proud. In the league meetings yesterday, NFL Owners approved the move of the St. Louis Rams. Construction will begin immediately on stadium in Inglewood, CA, although it will not be completed until 2019. The team will move from St. Louis this upcoming season and most likely to play in the Coliseum. The Coliseum is where University of Southern California (USC) plays their home games and where the LA Rams played from 1946 -1995 before moving to St Louis.
Rams owner Stan Kroenke will fund the building of the stadium on his own, estimated at $1.8 billion. San Diego Chargers will have a year to decide if they would also like to move to Inglewood. If they decline the Oakland Raiders will have the option to move.
UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)
- We’ll always have Saturday Night. UFC President Dana White announced that Ronda Rousey will not return for UFC 200 in July. This fight card is predicted to be the biggest in history of MMA. On another note, Rousey is hosting Saturday Night Live next Saturday, January 23rd).
- Who’s next? The card for UFC 197 (March 5th) has been announced. It will include two title fights.
- In the bantamweight division (135 pounds) - Holly Holm (champion) vs Meisha Tate
- Conor McGregor (featherweight titleholder) vs Rafael Dos Anjos (lightweight titleholder). Conor McGregor is 145 pound champ and UFC’s biggest draw. In an unprecedented move, McGregor is moving up a weight class (to 155 pounds) to fight for this belt.
Overtime
- Barcelona Forward, Lionel Messi, won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award. The award recognized the 28-year-old Argentine as the men’s world player of the year for the fifth time.
- American Carli Lloyd received the same honor for the ladies. The 33-year-old U.S. Soccer star was recognized as the best woman soccer player in the world. You go girl.
Sideline Stat
- He could have their own football team. Jets Cornerback Antonio Cromartie and his wife are expecting twins. Usually a joyous occasion, except Cromartie had a vasectomy in 2011. Likely because he has 10 kids with eight different women. Cue the music Kanye, “win a Super Bowl and drive off in a Hyundai.”
Coaches’ Corner
- Alabama Offensive Coach, Lane Kiffin, was left behind at the stadium by the team bus after the big win in Monday night’s championship game. He eventually got a ride home with Head Coach Nick Saban.
Maybe Kiffin should consider a second job as an Uber driver as he has a history of being left behind. The most notorious episode was when he was pulled off the USC team bus at the airport, fired and then the bus left without him, leaving him stranded to get his own ride back from LAX.