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Description

Franchise value and ownership history

Franchise name/location history (most to least recent):
  • St. Louis Blues

Franchise Valuation and Ownership History
All amounts in US$ unless otherwise noted.
Season   Value
(US$)
In today's
US$
Hockey Franchise
Valuation Rank
1967-68 $2,000,000 $18,848,921
Franchise fee to join the NHL: $US 2M.
Source(s): Book: Power Plays / Book: The Lively World of Hockey / Inside Hockey 1969-70 / Book: The California Golden Seals / Podcast: 50 Years Ago in Hockey / Book: Changing the Game / The Hockey News
1983-84 $12,000,000 $37,879,518
Ralston Purina sold the team to a group from Saskatoon but the transaction was blocked by the NHL which ultimately took control of the team, during lawsuits and liquidation attempts, and sold it to Harry Ornest and his group of investors for $12M. (According to the books Brian McFarlane's History of Hockey and La glorieuse histoire des Canadiens, it was for $3M, likely just the specific share of Ornest.
Source(s): La Presse
1986-87 $19,000,000 $54,498,677
On October 1, 1986, Harry Ornest sold the franchise to a group of 22 companies for $19M. (It was sold for $18M according to La Presse.)
Source(s): Book: Brian McFarlane's History of Hockey / La Presse
1991-92 $39,000,000 $90,033,042 18
Source(s): Financial World
1992-93 $52,000,000 $116,510,832 12
Source(s): Financial World
1993-94 $59,000,000 $128,406,479 11
Source(s): Financial World
1994-95 $69,000,000 $146,360,815 12
Source(s): Financial World
1995-96 $74,000,000 $152,681,454 15
Source(s): Financial World
1996-97 $95,000,000 $190,423,972 11
Source(s): Financial World
1998-99 $154,000,000 $297,022,269 7
Source(s): Forbes
1999-00 $137,000,000 $258,571,257 13
In September 1999, Bill and Nancy Laurie purchased the St. Louis Blues and the Kiel Center for $100M, a bargain price estimated to be $135M less than the estimated market value of the arena and team combined. Forbes was valueing the team alone at $137M.
Source(s): Forbes / Book: American Sports Empire
2000-01 $136,000,000 $248,306,620 15
Source(s): Forbes
2001-02 $153,000,000 $271,662,055 13
Source(s): Forbes
2002-03 $148,000,000 $258,679,119 15
Source(s): Forbes
2003-04 $147,000,000 $251,232,877 13
Source(s): Forbes
2004-05 $140,000,000 $233,036,849 16
Source(s): Forbes
2005-06 $150,000,000 $241,487,019 1
In March 2006, David Checketts purchased the franchise from Bill and Nancy Laurie for $150M.
Source(s): Forbes / St. Louis Business Journal
2006-07 $150,000,000 $233,940,176 16
Source(s): Forbes
2007-08 $145,000,000 $219,870,744 29
Source(s): Forbes
2008-09 $162,000,000 $236,566,651 25
Source(s): Forbes
2009-10 $176,000,000 $257,921,134 21
Source(s): Forbes
2010-11 $165,000,000 $237,897,826 22
Source(s): Forbes / Book: Sports Economics
2011-12 $157,000,000 $219,439,851 27
(The franchise was worth $130M according to the book Sports and Labor in the United States)
Source(s): Forbes
2012-13 $130,000,000 $178,021,691 30
Source(s): Forbes
2013-14 $185,000,000 $249,673,764 28
Source(s): Forbes
2014-15 $235,000,000 $312,089,212 25
Source(s): Forbes
2015-16 $270,000,000 $358,146,992 24
Source(s): Forbes
2016-17 $310,000,000 $406,083,080 23
Source(s): Forbes
2017-18 $450,000,000 $577,186,684 17
Source(s): Forbes
2018-19 $465,000,000 $582,199,036 17
Source(s): Forbes
2019-20 $530,000,000 $651,771,885 18
Source(s): Forbes
2020-21 $510,000,000 $619,567,233 18
Source(s): Forbes
2021-22 $640,000,000 $742,494,465 21
According to Graeme Roustan, in The Hockey News, the value of the franchise without the arena was between $700M and $799M.
Source(s): Forbes
2022-23 $880,000,000 $945,240,861 19
According to Graeme Roustan, in The Hockey News, the value of the franchise without the arena was $900M. It was $770M according to Sportico.
Source(s): Forbes
2023-24 $990,000,000 $1,021,516,245 24
According to Graeme Roustan, in The Hockey News, the value of the franchise without the arena was $1.25B. It was $965M according to Sportico.
Source(s): Forbes
2024-25 $1,470,000,000 $1,470,000,000 23
Source(s): CNBC