Rams Top NFL in 1984 Income at $29.4 Million
The Rams weren’t big winners on the field last year, finishing with a 10-6 record and losing to the New York Giants in the wild-card round of the playoffs, but the team was a big winner in the financial department.
The Rams grossed $29.4 million in 1984, more than any other team in the NFL, according to an article in the October issue of Regardie’s Magazine.
The magazine based its figures on data supplied by the league, individual teams and the NFL Players Assn.
The magazine credits the Rams’ financial success to its lease agreement with Anaheim Stadium, saying the team earned $3.4 million in luxury-box revenues and more than $1 million in concession and parking fees.
Apparently, success on the playing field does not presage success at the bank for NFL teams. The magazine said four teams with losing records in 1984 were among the top 10 money-makers in the NFL last year.
The Minnesota Vikings (3-13), San Diego Chargers (7-9), Indianapolis Colts (4-12) and Cleveland Browns (5-11) were all among the league’s top revenue makers in 1984, hauling in from $26.2 million for the Browns to $27.5 million for the Vikings, according to Regardie’s.
Conversely, the Washington Redskins, the NFL’s winningest team the past three years and who last season played before more soldout crowds, home and away, than other team, grossed $23.9 million, a figure topped by 21 other teams.
The Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers ranked 20th in total revenue at $24.2 million and, according to team owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr., actually lost money last year.
“The NFL has done an extraordinary job of minimizing economic incentives to do well on the field,” says Roger Noll, professor of economics at Stanford University.
BB 1984 NFL GROSS EARNINGS* 1984 Shared Unshared Team Record Revenue Revenue L.A. Rams 10-6 $29,406,028 $4,501,750 Minnesota 3-13 27,548,978 3,000,000 Denver 13-3 27,429,424 998,000 San Diego 7-0 27,323,230 904,130 Dallas 9-7 26,690,439 704,440 L.A. Raiders 11-5 26,544,329 0 N.Y. Giants 9-7 26,506,321 1,500,000 Miami 14-2 26,431,584 1,307,750 Indianapolis 4-12 26,211,101 2,909,500 Cleveland 5-11 26,203,869 2,368,500 Kansas City 8-8 25,614,592 2,368,500 N.Y. Jets 7-9 25,572,141 300,000 Chicago 10-6 25,528,289 1,500,00 New England 9-7 25,388,456 1,700,00 Tampa Bay 6-10 25,130,501 2,395,020 Philadelphia 6-9-1 24,553,628 955,400 Pittsburgh 9-7 24,531,099 0 Seattle 12-4 24,416,669 0 Detroit 4-11-1 24,271,167 0 San Francisco 15-1 24,268,388 64,000 New Orleans 7-9 24,001,366 0 Washington 11-5 23,912,820 0 St. Louis 9-7 23,857,809 75,000 Buffalo 2-14 23,653,948 898,750 Atlanta 4-14 23,463,813 300,000 Houston 3-13 23,378,368 660,000 Cincinnati 8-8 23,256,063 64,000 Green Bay 8-8 23,207,657 0 As reported in Regardie’s Magazine EB