Tax writeoffs and the value of sports teams

Because of IRS treatment of player contracts, purchase of a professional sports team offers a special tax shelter to investors. The effect of the tax shelter on valuation of a team is summarized, together with an analysis of current rates of return that can be earned from investing in "average" teams in baseball, football, and basketball. This paper addresses the problems posed in evaluating a professional sports team as a potential vehicle for investment. These problems arise because of the special tax sheltering advantages of team ownership.