LONDON (AP) - Manchester United is the world's richest sports franchise, ahead of even the New York Yankees in terms of income, according to figures released Wednesday by sports business group Deloitte & Touche.
The numbers showed Manchester United had revenues of 251.4 million euros ($413.3 million Cdn) for the 2002-3 season, compared with the Yankees' 243.8 million euros ($400.8 million Cdn).
According to Deloitte & Touche, the Washington Redskins are the second richest sports franchise in the United States with income of 197.7 million euros ($325 million Cdn). That would put the Redskins fifth in the world list.
Manchester United, the English Premier League champion, is by far the world's richest soccer club. Italian champion Juventus was second with revenues of 218.3 euros ($358.91 million Cdn), while Champions League winner AC Milan was third at 200.2 million euros ($329.2 million Cdn).
Spanish champion Real Madrid climbed two places to fourth after generating 192.6 million euros ($316.7 million Cdn). Bundesliga winner Bayern Munich, which was knocked out of the Champions League in the first group stage, slipped two places to fifth after losing out on TV revenue.
The biggest mover was Inter Milan, which climbed from 12th to sixth after reaching the Champions League semifinal. Arsenal, runner-up to United last season but on target for the Premier League title this year, moved up from eighth to seventh.
Liverpool, a disappointing fifth in the Premier League, slipped from fifth to eighth on the rich list. Third-place finisher Newcastle moved up from 13th to ninth.
Chelsea dropped from seventh to 10th on the list but that was before Russian oil billionaire Roman Abramovich arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer. He became the leading shareholder and wiped out the club's debts of some 117 euros million ($192.4 million Cdn).