Abdelrahman
The Mara and Tisch families are reportedly considering the sale of up to 10% of the New York Giants, according to an exclusive report by Ben Fischer in the Sports Business Journal.
In their announcement, the families clarified that the stake they intend to sell would be a non-controlling interest. The statement highlighted, “The Mara and Tisch families have engaged Moelis & Company to assess the potential sale of a minority, non-controlling share in the New York Giants. No further comments will be provided regarding this process,” as reported by Mike Garafolo from NFL Network.
The Mara family has been at the helm of the Giants since Tim Mara established the team in 1925. Currently, John Mara, Tim Mara’s grandson, serves as the organization’s president. The Mara family retains a 50% ownership stake in the team, with the Tisch family holding the remaining share since 1991.
While the reasons behind the proposed sale remain unclear, Fischer noted that this decision follows the NFL’s approval in August of a policy allowing private equity firms to acquire up to 10% of franchises.
Since the new policy’s implementation, two other franchises have already sold stakes. Arctos Partners acquired a 10% interest in the Buffalo Bills, while Ares Management purchased a similar stake in the Miami Dolphins.
If the Giants proceed with the sale of a 10% interest, it could set a new benchmark for NFL team valuations. Forbes currently estimates the Giants’ worth at $7.3 billion, with Fischer mentioning that some valuations could reach as high as $7.85 billion.
In December, Jeffrey Lurie, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, sold 8% of the team based on an $8.3 billion valuation. Fischer pointed out that due to the larger market size of New York (approximately 19.5 million) compared to Philadelphia (around 6.2 million), the Giants’ valuation may exceed that of the Eagles.
However, several factors might affect the team’s valuation negatively. For instance, sharing the New York market with the Jets could pose challenges. Additionally, the Giants’ struggles over the past decade may impact their value, despite having a storied history that includes four Super Bowl victories since 1986.
