The 2 deals represent the first investments by private equity firms in American football league teams
At a meeting of NFL owners held in Dallas last Wednesday (Dec 11, 2024), the companies and acquired 10% stakes in and , respectively. The approval of these investments follows the NFL’s decision in August to allow the sale of up to 10% of franchises to private equity firms.
The Dolphins transaction, led by Stephen Ross, reached a valuation of US$8.1 billion, as reported by Bloomberg. Ares Management, with investments in entities such as the MLS franchise Inter Miami FC, McLaren Racing and Atlético de Madrid, expands its sports portfolio.
Joe Tsai and Oliver Weisberg, linked to the Brooklyn Nets, received approval to acquire 3% of the Dolphins. The Bills, meanwhile, have introduced 10 new limited partners, including former NBA stars Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, as well as former U.S. Soccer player Jozy Altidore.
The Las Vegas Raiders, although they did not include a company in their ownership list, received investments from Egon Durban and Michael Meldman, who acquired a 7.5% stake each. These acquisitions complement the recent addition of Tom Brady and Richard Seymour as limited partners. The Philadelphia Eagles also experienced changes to their ownership structure, with 2 family investment groups acquiring 8% of the team, valued at $8.3 billion.
