The stadiums are small, the bus rides are long and the promotions are wacky. Life in the minor-leagues isn’t exactly glamourous.
Yet many minor-league baseball franchises are worth tens of millions of dollars. In a report released Wednesday, Forbes valued the Buffalo Bisons at $26 million.
The Bisons, the triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, rank 13th among all minor-league franchises. The Bisons generate $7.5 million in revenue and have a $1.1 million operating income, according to Forbes.
The team’s owner, Robert Rich Jr., has a net worth of $2.4 billion, according to Forbes. Rich, whose family started the Buffalo-based food company Rich Products, owns two other teams, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Texas League and the Jamestown Jammers of the New York-Penn League.
The Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League are the most valuable franchise in the minor-leagues, with an estimated value of $38 million.
Most of the top teams play at triple-A, but the Dayton Dragons of the single-A Midwest League are valued at $31 million, sixth among all minor-league teams.
The Bisons became affiliated with the Blue Jays before the 2013 season after four years as the Mets’ top affiliate. The Blue Jays and Bisons will be linked through at least 2014 under the terms of their current contract.
The Bisons play their home games at Coca-Cola Field. The stadium has a seating capacity of 18,025 and cost $42 million to build.
