Arctos Adds Stake in 4th NFL Team With Falcons Deal
The agreement reportedly values the Falcons at $10.6 billion.
Private equity firm Arctos is acquiring a 10% stake in the Falcons, expanding its footprint in the NFL to include four teams. The deal values the franchise at $10.6 billion. Arctos, owned by KKR, will make the purchase in two stages, beginning with a 7.5% stake. A vote on the transaction is anticipated in October. According to Sportico, this is Arctos's second NFL team after the Chargers, Bills, and Browns.
The NFL imposed a cap of six franchises that private-equity firms can invest in, and Arctos can only acquire stakes in two more teams under this limit. The maximum stake a PE firm can buy in a single team is 10%. The identity of Arthur Blank, the current owner of the Falcons, and his involvement in the transaction is not yet clear.
In August 2024, NFL owners approved a policy allowing PE firms to purchase minority stakes in teams, with the Bengals being the sole team to vote against it. Currently, six NFL teams have private-equity investors, including the Falcons, Patriots, and Dolphins. The NFL's 10% cap on PE investments is distinct from the rules of other major sports leagues, which cap collective private-equity ownership at 30% for the NBA, NHL, and MLS, and at 20% for MLB.
Arctos has invested in multiple NFL teams, NBA, NHL, and MLB teams, as well as other sports organizations. While private equity firms have been increasingly active in sports, KKR gained prominence when it acquired Arctos last year.
Written by urgent.news from Front Office Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
