Forbes.com is reported the St. Louis Cardinals, fresh off their world championship, have increased their value 14% over the last year, bringing the franchise value to $591 million -- quite a lot more than the $150 million now-owner William DeWitt Jr. paid for the franchise in 1996.
According to Forbes, the Cardinals may have another value boost looming on the horizon:
The Cardinals have a [television] deal that runs through 2017 with Fox Sports Midwest. The Cardinals had baseball’s second-highest average television ratings last year, 8.9, and with just six years remaining on their deal the timing would appear to be about right for the team to negotiate a payout triple the $14 million in television fees they got last season.
The Cardinals enter the 2012 season looking to repeat as World Series winners, and doing so could likely improve their already impressive television ratings and increase their leverage in working a new television deal.
For more on the St. Louis Cardinals, head over to Viva El Birdos, SB Nation's Cards blog. Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more breaking news and updates concerning all matters St. Louis sports, and MLB Daily Dish for all your MLB rumors and news.
