The NFL once again demonstrates its financial strength with the approval of the sale of a 3.5% stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, in a deal that values the franchise at over $11 billion. The decision not only confirms the sustained growth in team valuations, but also highlights the league’s appeal to high-profile investors, in a context where media rights and global expansion continue to drive its economic development.

At the same time, the team’s on-field outlook is also generating excitement. Holding the first overall pick in the 2026 Draft, the Raiders are expected to strengthen their project with the potential arrival of quarterback Fernando Mendoza, recent winner of the Heisman Trophy after leading Indiana University to a historic perfect season. In this way, the team combines strong financial momentum with key sporting decisions that could shape its immediate future.

A strategic operation that redefines the franchise’s value

The NFL’s approval clears the way for Egon Durban, co-CEO of Silver Lake, to acquire a 3.5% stake in the team as part of a succession plan driven by majority owner Mark Davis. The deal also includes the possibility of increasing this stake to 7% in the near term, strengthening a relationship that could expand further, especially considering that Durban has secured the right of first refusal in the event of a future majority sale.

The agreement also includes a 10% fee that buyers must pay to the league, a condition established following the franchise’s relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020. This mechanism, in place until 2037, reinforces the league’s financial oversight of transactions and ensures direct benefits for the NFL’s central structure, in a landscape where each ownership move reaches multi-billion-dollar proportions.

The rise of valuations and the impact of the global business

The Raiders’ valuation growth is not an isolated case. According to CNBC, the franchise was already valued at $9.3 billion in 2025, ranking among the most valuable teams in the league. This sustained increase is largely driven by the NFL’s strategy around media rights, with record-breaking deals that include review clauses capable of further boosting revenues in the coming years.

This trend is mirrored across other franchises, such as the Miami Dolphins, whose valuation has also surpassed $11 billion following recent ownership transactions. In this context, the NFL continues to solidify its position as one of the most profitable sports leagues in the world, where the combination of entertainment, global reach, and media power keeps attracting large-scale investment, reshaping the business of professional sports.