Forbes’ NFL Valuations: 49ers fourth-most valuable franchise

The construction of Levi’s Stadium helped propel the 49ers value nearly 70 percent, according to Forbes.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Forbes released its annual valuations of NFL franchises on Wednesday, and while the 49ers continue to sort of matters of on-field personnel, the organization continues to trend in the right direction on spreadsheets.

The 49ers are now worth an estimated $3 billion, good enough to make them the fourth-richest franchise in the entire league. That’s an uptick from the previous year when San Francisco carried an estimated net worth of a measly $2.7 billion, or good enough for fifth in the league.

The 2015 increase was the largest one-year increase of any team in the league, according to Forbes, with much of that growth attributed to the construction of their newly minted cathedral of football, Levi’s Stadium. The venue helped the franchise’s value increase 69 percent in one year.

Forbes valued the 49ers at $1.6 billion and $1.224 billion in 2014 and 2013 respectively.

San Francisco generated $427 million in revenue in 2014 and had an operating income of $124 million, both numbers have since increased — revenue is now at $446 million and operating income is at $154 million.

“The 49ers have teamed up with Amazon to offer tailgaters one-hour Prime Now so that fans who tailgate before games outside Levi’s Stadium can order food, drinks, and more from Amazon and have it delivered in one hour or less,” Forbes wrote.

While the 49ers leapfrogged in the standings, the Washington Redskins conceded a few positions, falling from No. 3 to fifth this year with a value of $2.95 billion.

The Dallas Cowboys ($4.2 billion), New England Patriots ($3.4 billion) and New York Giants ($3.1 billion) round out the top three.