Please share this page:

Description

Franchise value and ownership history

Franchise name/location history (most to least recent):
  • Buffalo Sabres

Franchise Valuation and Ownership History
All amounts in US$ unless otherwise noted.
Season   Value
(US$)
In today's
US$
Hockey Franchise
Valuation Rank
1970-71 $6,000,000 $49,814,529
$6M franchise fee, in local currency, to the NHL.
Source(s): Podcast: 50 Years Ago in Hockey / Book: Power Plays / Inside Hockey 1970-71 / The Sporting News
1986-87 $10,000,000 $29,404,251
The franchise was worth between US $10M and $15M.
Source(s): Fortune
1991-92 $39,000,000 $92,295,323 18
Source(s): Financial World
1992-93 $44,000,000 $101,063,284 20
Source(s): Financial World
1993-94 $55,000,000 $122,708,708 12
Source(s): Financial World
1994-95 $60,000,000 $130,468,223 14
Source(s): Financial World
1995-96 $65,000,000 $137,481,953 18
Source(s): Financial World
1996-97 $74,000,000 $152,057,380 18
Source(s): Financial World
1998-99 $91,000,000 $179,923,318 20
Source(s): Forbes
1999-00 $91,000,000 $176,067,355 22
Source(s): Forbes
2000-01 $97,000,000 $181,551,103 23
Source(s): Forbes
2001-02 $117,000,000 $212,961,541 23
Source(s): Forbes
2002-03 $92,000,000 $164,841,005 28
In April 2003, the franchise was purchased by Tom Golisano for $92M which was its valuation from Forbes.
Source(s): Forbes
2003-04 $95,000,000 $166,441,074 29
Source(s): Forbes
2004-05 $103,000,000 $175,756,565 27
Source(s): Forbes
2006-07 $149,000,000 $238,219,654 17
Source(s): Forbes
2007-08 $163,000,000 $253,375,615 21
Source(s): Forbes
2008-09 $169,000,000 $252,989,782 21
Source(s): Forbes
2009-10 $170,000,000 $255,388,273 22
Source(s): Forbes
2010-11 $165,000,000 $243,875,539 22
In February 2011, TerrY Pegula bought the franchise from Tom Golisano for $165M (It was purchased for $189M according to The Hockey Writers). (The franchise was worth $169M according to Forbes and the book Sports Economics.)
Source(s): CNBC
2011-12 $173,000,000 $247,878,990 22
Source(s): Forbes
2012-13 $175,000,000 $245,666,188 22
Source(s): Forbes
2013-14 $250,000,000 $345,874,828 22
Source(s): Forbes
2014-15 $288,000,000 $392,085,833 23
Source(s): Forbes
2015-16 $300,000,000 $407,940,258 23
Source(s): Forbes
2016-17 $300,000,000 $402,858,214 25
Source(s): Forbes
2017-18 $350,000,000 $460,203,166 28
Source(s): Forbes
2018-19 $375,000,000 $481,312,970 28
Source(s): Forbes
2019-20 $400,000,000 $504,263,475 29
Source(s): Forbes
2020-21 $385,000,000 $479,464,838 28
Source(s): Forbes
2021-22 $500,000,000 $594,649,446 29
According to Graeme Roustan, in The Hockey News, the value of the franchise without the arena was between $650M and $699M.
Source(s): Forbes
2022-23 $610,000,000 $671,687,735 30
According to Graeme Roustan, in The Hockey News, the value of the franchise without the arena was $800M. It was $635M according to Sportico.
Source(s): Forbes
2023-24 $750,000,000 $793,321,300 32
According to Graeme Roustan, in The Hockey News, the value of the franchise without the arena was $1.25B. It was $900M according to Sportico.
Source(s): Forbes
2024-25 $1,100,000,000 $1,130,156,200 30
According to Graeme Roustan, in The Hockey News, the value of the franchise without the arena was $1.6B. It was $1.13B according to Sportico and $1.15B according to CNBC.
Source(s): Forbes
2025-26 $1,360,000,000 $1,360,000,000 29
Source(s): Sportico