Arctos agrees to buy 10% of Atlanta Falcons at $10.6 billion valuation, sources say

JUST IN: Private equity firm Arctos has agreed to buy 10% of the Atlanta Falcons in a deal that values the NFL franchise at $10.6 billion, sources say.

Ten point six billion dollars for a team that hasn't made the playoffs in eight years.

Private equity firm Arctos has agreed to buy ten percent of the Atlanta Falcons at that valuation, according to sources. The deal runs in two tranches over eighteen months, and the NFL is expected to vote on it in October. Owner Arthur Blank, the Home Depot co-founder, bought this team in 2002 for 545 million. Do the maths on that return, I'll wait.

And here's what I love. The Falcons' own CEO said it out loud on television, average performance on the field, best business year they've ever had. You can see him making the case here. Losing has never been this profitable.

Arctos already owns pieces of the Chargers, the Bills and the Browns, so this would be NFL team number four. Mercedes-Benz Stadium gets the 2028 Super Bowl too. In this league, you don't need trophies. You just need a seat at the table.

This is Sara White, reporting for HIT.