NFL Opens Doors to Private Equity Investments

In a significant move, the National Football League (NFL) has approved a rule change allowing private equity firms to buy a stake of up to 10% of a team. This decision marks a major shift in the league’s ownership structure, as it opens up new opportunities for investment and revenue generation.

According to reports, 31 of 32 team owners voted in favor of the change, with the holdout being Mike Brown of the Cincinnati Bengals. The specifics of the arrangement include a minimum stake of 3% for the private equity firm, a maximum of six teams that can be invested in, and a minimum holding period of six years. Additionally, all funds must have at least $2 billion in overall capital to participate.

The NFL is making this change amid the continued skyrocketing of franchise values, which has made it challenging for club owners to cash in on their teams. The previous rules required an ownership group to have no more than 25 people, but the new regulations will provide principal owners with increased flexibility in finding minority partners looking to inject cash in exchange for a cut of the profits.

It appears that NFL teams won’t wait long to take advantage of this new opportunity. According to CNBC, a group of firms including Ares Management, Sixth Street Partners, and Arctos Partners have committed to raising $12 billion in capital to invest in NFL teams.

This development is likely to have significant implications for the NFL and its teams, as it opens up new avenues for investment and revenue generation. As the league continues to evolve and adapt to changing market conditions, it will be interesting to see how this new arrangement plays out and what impact it has on the sport.