The Miami Dolphins are in advanced talks to sell a minority stake in the team to private equity firm Ares Management and billionaire Joe Tsai, CNBC has learned, highlighting the growing trend of owners looking to build their sports portfolios to include multiple teams and operate their own stadiums to maximize revenue.<\/p>\n
The deal, which would also include Hard Rock Stadium, the operating rights for the Miami Grand Prix F1 race and about half of the Miami Open, values the assets at $8.1 billion, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.<\/p>\n
A controlling valuation for the same assets would have been north of $10 billion, a source close to the negotiations told CNBC.<\/p>\n
This would mark the first private equity investment for the NFL since the league approved the\u00a0new finance rules\u00a0in August.<\/p>\n
CNBC has valued the\u00a0Miami Dolphins\u00a0as the league\u2019s eighth most valuable team at $7.1 billion, which does not include the stadium.<\/p>\n
As part of the negotiations, Ares Management would buy 10% of the team and Tsai, owner of the Brooklyn Nets, is in talks to buy another 3% stake, the person said.\u00a0Bloomberg\u00a0earlier reported the talks.<\/p>\n
Nothing has been signed and there is no timeline for a potential deal, the person added.<\/p>\n
The Miami Dolphins and the NFL declined to comment, and Tsai\u2019s BSE Global did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n
Businessman Stephen Ross purchased the Miami Dolphins in 2009 for $1.1 billion.<\/p>\n
A source close to the Miami Dolphins owner said Ross plans to use the money from the sale to increase his portfolio of South Florida real estate and further his investment in sports.<\/p>\n
Ross, also the CEO of Related Companies, is just one of a handful of team owners that also owns and operates the team\u2019s stadium. This allows him to bring in revenue from events held at the stadium such as the Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open tennis tournament.<\/p>\n
The Dolphins made $673 million in revenue in 2023.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Ross reportedly\u00a0turned down\u00a0a record $10 billion offer for control of the team, Formula One Miami Grand Prix and Hard Rock Stadium. Ross said he wanted to keep the team within his family.<\/p>\n
In late August, NFL owners voted in favor of allowing select private equity firms to invest up to a\u00a010% stake in teams.<\/p>\n
The NFL is the last of the major professional sports to allow PE investment, but the league softened its stance as rising valuations have made finding buyers increasingly difficult.<\/p>\n
Ares, which manages $450 billion in assets, was one of the four groups that the NFL approved for investment in its teams.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Tsai has been building a sports empire. The chairperson of the Alibaba Group currently owns the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty and operates the Barclays Center. He also owns the\u00a0San Diego Seals\u00a0and is co-owner of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, both National Lacrosse League teams, in addition to\u00a0Los Angeles FC\u00a0of Major League Soccer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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