The NBA season is upon us, and it is time for a fun discussion on sports business. Did you know that the most valuable franchise in the NBA was the New York Knicks? Yes, the long suffering Knicks are valued at $3.3 b, ahead of the $3b Lakers. Even the loss-factory Brooklyn Nets clock in at #7, showing that in the sports franchise business, location is everything. In value, the NFL has the NBA beat, the Dallas Cowboys, the most valuable team, is worth $4.8b. In baseball, team values are lower, except for the Yankees, who are valued at $3.7 b. There are several soccer teams which have super values, with Manchester United coming up tops at $3.7 b. So I guess the Cowboys remain by far the most valuable sports franchise. Some predict a value migration from football (US style) to other sports in the next few decades. They suggest that preponderance of data on adverse health consequences is too much to ignore. Imagine you were Don Garber (he is the commissioner of MLS, the soccer league in the US). Identify 2 strategic steps they can take to popularize soccer further in the US. FYI, the top team in MLS is the LA Galaxy, with an estimated worth of $.3b.