The NFL appears to be nearing a major shift in its ownership model, potentially opening the door to foreign investment. Jason Wright, former president of the Washington Commanders, made the revelation during a sports business panel at Gabelli Funds’ Media & Sports Symposium in New York. According to Wright, his “experience in NFL circles suggests the league is close to opening itself up to foreign investment.”
Historically, U.S. sports leagues have kept foreign ownership out, even as sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE gained high-profile stakes in international sports like soccer, golf, and motorsport. But with the NFL’s explosive growth and global ambitions, Wright believes a broader investment base is an “inevitability.”
Wright noted the NFL’s caution, calling it a “slower mover” that is expected to “test the waters” first. Initial steps could take the form of major partnerships with companies backed by foreign governments, such as naming rights for stadiums or high-profile league sponsorships. These preliminary deals, he suggested, will serve as clear indicators that direct foreign investment is coming. These discussions, Wright added, “have been happening in the background.”
He also pointed out that while smaller leagues are likely to attract sovereign investment sooner due to greater capital needs, the NFL’s entry into this arena is not a matter of if, but when. If the league does welcome foreign capital, the financial landscape could change dramatically, providing teams with fresh resources to fund operations and fuel the NFL’s overseas expansion.
