Recently a survey was published showing the most valuable sports franchises among the teams in the NFL, MLB, and the NBA. What were the three most valuable on this list? The highest valued was worth $272 million.

While a valuation of $272 million might seem modest today, this figure places our survey squarely in the mid-1990s. During this era, these three franchises were titans of their respective leagues, commanding immense popularity and revenue that placed them at the top of the sports world. The list was compiled by Financial World magazine, which pioneered the business of ranking team valuations.

The Dallas Cowboys' position as number one was no surprise. They were in the midst of their "America's Team" dynasty, winning three Super Bowls in four seasons between 1992 and 1995. Led by stars like Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith and visionary owner Jerry Jones, their on-field success translated directly into commercial dominance. The Miami Dolphins, powered by the legendary arm of quarterback Dan Marino, were a consistent powerhouse with a massive fanbase. In baseball, the New York Yankees have always been a financial juggernaut due to their storied history and location in the nation's largest media market, making them the most valuable MLB franchise long before their late-90s championship run.

To put this list in perspective, the sports industry has seen an astronomical financial boom since the 1990s. This growth has been fueled by massive television rights deals, global merchandising, and new revenue streams from state-of-the-art stadiums. Today, the Dallas Cowboys are valued at over $9 billion, demonstrating just how much the financial landscape of professional sports has transformed in a few short decades.