Private Equity Touchdown – How firms could be scoring big in the NFL

The US’ National Football League has recently enacted a new game plan – the league passed a resolution in August to allow private equity investment into team franchises for the first time. With the average team valued at approximately USD 5bn, the new initiative presents big opportunities for investors.

The new resolution is playing into an even larger trend: the creation of a new asset class of sports investing, with PE investments into the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins leading the charge. Furthermore, deal structures have opened up opportunities to own broadcasting rights, real estate, and infrastructure via the stadiums themselves.

Tom Cane, Mergermarket’s US-based funds editor, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss how the NFL’s playbook will impact investors, including a look into:

• How do firms get the necessary pre-approval to buy stakes in different teams and how much can they own?
• Which funds are already involved in the NFL and how have those deals come together?
• How have other sports leagues like the MLB and NBA allowed private investments?
• What’s on the horizon, including an interest in investing in women’s sports and college teams?

All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.