Owning an NFL team is like having a golden goose that just won’t quit, even when your team is taking hits harder than a linebacker at the goal line. Enter the Miami Dolphins saga: while the fins might be floundering in the standings, owner Stephen Ross is basking in a victory of a different sort.
A Game-Changer Off the Field
In a turn of events that feels like a successful Hail Mary pass, Ross, who was initially looking to sell a 15 percent stake in the team and other assets valued at $7 billion, has done one better. He’s reportedly sealing a deal to offload 13 percent at a staggering valuation of $8.1 billion. A stroke of genius, you might say—like pulling off a flea flicker when the defense least expects it!
Touchdown for Private Equity
Here’s where the plot thickens, folks. Imagine Ross sitting at a round table, donned in his finest, clinching a deal that could mark a new chapter in NFL ownership. According to insiders whispering behind the curtains of the gridiron world, Ross is in advanced discussions to sell 10 percent to Ares Management. This power move is akin to snatching a fumble off the turf with nimble fingers. Ares, one of the select few pre-approved private-equity titans, can scoop up 10 percent of stakes in up to six squads, making it feel like trading player cards in a big-kids playground.
But wait, there’s more—as if we were watching an exhilarating multi-lateral play unfold. Ross will also pass along another three percent to Joe Tsai, the master strategist who owns the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA’s New York Liberty. It’s a slam dunk across leagues!
Looking Ahead to the Endgame
The grand aim? To have these high-stakes deals rubber-stamped at the NFL’s grand December 2024 ownership summit. Picture it—the grand hall akin to a football cathedral, murmuring with excited voices as history gallops in. This will be one of, if not the very first, transactions with a private equity fund since the NFL’s groundbreaking decision in August.
As we all gather at the edge of our seats, our eyes set on this tale, one thing is clear: in the thrilling realm of the NFL, not all victories happen on the field. Some are struck with the precision and passion that only a true football enthusiast can appreciate. So, stay tuned, amigos, as this saga plays out like the fourth quarter of an epic championship decider!
