Arctos reached an agreement Thursday to acquire a 10% interest in the Atlanta Falcons at a reported enterprise valuation of $10.6 billion, a transaction that would add to the private equity firm’s growing footprint in NFL franchises.
CNBC reported that the parties are planning the stake transfer in two tranches and said the NFL is expected to take up a vote in October. It is not yet clear whether the shares being sold come solely from owner Arthur Blank’s position or also involve other holders.
Blank, who co-founded Home Depot, bought the Falcons in 2002 for $545 million and now controls just under 73% of the team. The franchise has not won a Super Bowl and missed the postseason again in the 2025-26 campaign, extending a long playoff drought.
If owners sign off, the Falcons would become Arctos’ fourth NFL investment, following positions in the Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns.
The reported valuation comes as prices for NFL teams continue to climb, with a pending Seattle Seahawks sale pegged at $9.61 billion, which would set a league record. CNBC’s Official NFL Valuations published in September 2025 placed the Falcons at $8 billion, ranking 11th across the league.
