Arctos Partners has reached a deal to buy 10% of the Atlanta Falcons in a two-part transaction, according to three people familiar with the details. The first tranche is for 7.5% of the NFL team at a valuation just over $10 billion, according to two of the people. The balance of the deal in 18 months is at an enterprise value of around $11 billion.
The agreement is expected to be voted on in October. If the deal is approved, it would mark the fourth NFL team in Arctos’ sports portfolio. The Falcons and Arctos declined to comment. CNBC was the first to report on the agreement.
The Falcons have missed the playoffs for eight straight years but have become a financial juggernaut at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened in 2017. Last season was the best one yet for the team, with estimated revenue of $800 million, good for eighth among NFL teams.
The team’s sponsorship revenue is more than $100 million a year, and the stadium ranks first for non-NFL event gross revenue. The venue hosts roughly 55 major ticketed events and 150 private events annually. Beyond concerts, it also benefits from a deep roster of college football games, including the SEC Championship and annual Georgia-Florida matchup.
