Eli Manning has decided not to pursue ownership of a minor stake in the New York Giants, the only NFL team he played for during his 16-year career.
“It’s essentially too costly for me,” Manning remarked recently. “Owning even one percent of a stock valued at $10 billion translates to quite a hefty amount.”
Currently, the Giants are valued at approximately $7.855 billion, according to CNBC’s NFL team rankings, placing them fourth among the 32 teams in the league.
Last year, the NFL permitted private equity firms to acquire up to 10% of team stakes, opening new avenues for investment. In February, Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch enlisted Moelis & Company to explore potential sales of minority stakes in the team.
Manning, alongside Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, has shown interest in buying a piece of the team, given their history with it. However, Manning faced other challenges that influenced his decision. He remains active in the sport through his co-hosting gig on ESPN’s Manning Cast for “Monday Night Football,” and owning a stake in the Giants could lead to conflicts of interest.
“You can’t engage with players you coached in the Pro Bowl,” Manning pointed out.
While he has no intentions of investing in any other NFL team, Manning acknowledges the Giants’ valuation of $10 billion as justified. Over his career, he has made over $250 million from the team, alongside various other ventures, including his production company, Till Till Productions, and his involvement with the private equity firm Velocity Group. Additionally, he serves as a team ambassador for the Giants and holds a minority stake in Gotham FC, a team in the National Women’s Football League, as well as the TGL’s New York Golf Team.
Strahan is also pursuing a minority stake, collaborating with billionaire Marc Lasry, while investor Julia Koch has submitted her own bid.
