--- title: "Private Equity's NFL Buying Spree Continues With Browns Deal At $9 Billion Value" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/287105138.md" description: "The Cleveland Browns sold 10% of the club to private equity firm Arctos Partners at a valuation exceeding $9 billion. The deal will occur in three tranches, with the first tranche of 3% already approved by NFL owners. Arctos aims to support the Browns' long-term goals and enhance the fan experience. The global sports market is projected to grow significantly, driven by media rights, fan engagement, and sponsorship opportunities." datetime: "2026-05-20T18:24:52.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/287105138.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287105138.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/287105138.md) --- # Private Equity's NFL Buying Spree Continues With Browns Deal At $9 Billion Value **The Cleveland Browns** sold 10% of the club at a valuation of more than $9 billion to private equity firm **Arctos Partners.** The deal will be completed in three separate tranches, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. NFL owners approved the first tranche, representing a 3% stake in the team, while approvals for the remaining two portions are expected at a later date. “The Cleveland Browns are one of the NFL’s most iconic and historic franchises, with a deeply loyal fan base and a leadership team committed to both the future of the organization and the surrounding community,” **Chad Hutchinson,** partner at Arctos said in a statement. “We are excited to join the Browns as a limited partner and support the organization’s long-term priorities.” **Read Also: Federal Judge Calls US Crackdown On Anthropic 'Spectacular Overreach'** The Cleveland Browns are valued at $6.1 billion, ranking them 23rd among the NFL's 32 franchises, according to Sportico, a digital content company that provides sports industry news. “Arctos brings deep and respected expertise across sports, and we welcome them as a limited partner,” said **Dee** and **Jimmy Haslam,** principal partners of the Browns and CEO and Chairman of Haslam Sports Group. “They share our long-term vision for investing in both the franchise and Northeast Ohio. We will continue working to build a championship-caliber organization, elevate the fan experience, and support transformative opportunities that create lasting impact for our region.” Private equity and venture capital in sports has been an accelerating investment trend, where firms are looking to acquire minority or majority stakes in professional teams, leagues and businesses, as company valuations grow. Major leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL now permit private equity investment into their franchises.  According to a report from Meketa, the global sports market reached $463 billion in revenue in 2024. It is projected to accelerate to just over $600 billion in revenue by 2028, and to nearly $863 billion by 2033.  Drivers of this growth include "the rising value of media rights deals, increased fan engagement, the expansion of sponsorship and merchandising opportunities, and growth in sports-adjacent businesses," the report stated. Other private equity and venture capital firms have recently purchased sports franchises. **Thrive Capital** has bought a small stake in the **San Francisco Giants** through a new holding company called Thrive Eternal. In March, a consortium comprising **Blackstone** (NYSE:BX), **Bolt Ventures, Aditya Birla Group,** and **The Times of India Group** agreed to acquire the **Royal Challengers Bengaluru** (RCB) cricket franchise.  Meanwhile, **Ares Management Corp., Apollo Global Management** (NYSE:APO) and **Sixth Street Partners** are reportedly having early-stage conversations regarding the National Basketball Association's (NBA) European expansion. Earlier this year, **KKR & Co.** (NYSE:KKR) entered into a definitive agreement to acquire **Arctos Partners,** an institutional investor in professional sports franchise stakes. _Photo: Shutterstock_ **Read Also: Private Equity's Big Four Are Starting To Crack As Exits Slow, Credit Stress Mounts** ### Related Stocks - [KKR.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/KKR.US.md) - [PEX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PEX.US.md) - [BX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BX.US.md) - [ARES.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/ARES.US.md) - [APO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/APO.US.md) - [ARES-B.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/ARES-B.US.md) - [APO-A.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/APO-A.US.md) - [APOS.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/APOS.US.md) - [KKRS.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/KKRS.US.md) - [KKR-D.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/KKR-D.US.md) - [KKRT.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/KKRT.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [Institutions bought more private credit as individuals balked, filings show](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286602637.md) - [GMR Solutions Cuts Expected IPO Price to $15/Share From $22-$25](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286122560.md) - [Blue Owl Co-Founder Sells Off Final Piece Of $6 Billion Commanders Deal](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287111222.md) - [NFL cooperating with Florida AG after subpoena, Goodell says](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287073745.md) - [Men in Blazers Media Network and Visa Team Up to Launch Fan-Powered City Guides Celebrating Soccer Culture and Local Small Businesses](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287075284.md)