After Lakers' $10B Sale, Which Major Franchises Might Sell Next?

Sports franchises have begun to sell in bunches, as ownership groups receive a massive return on their investment. The most recent sale of the Los Angeles Lakers set a record with an estimated valuation of $10 billion, moving majority ownership from the Buss family to Mark Walter. 

Other major franchises have also been sold in the past couple of years. These include the Boston Celtics, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos, and Phoenix Suns.  

The Celtics sold in March 2025 for $6.1 billion, purchased by William Chisholm’s ownership group from the Grousbeck family. In 2002, the Grousbeck’s bought the Boston Celtics for $360 million, profiting over $5.5 billion in less than 25 years of ownership. 

Other NBA franchises have ownership that continues to drive up their valuation based on a variety of factors. These teams include the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks, while others like the Celtics and Lakers have already cashed in on their investment with sales made in 2025. 

So which major sports franchise will sell next? There’s quite a few that warrant consideration. Whether it’s media rights deals that bring in substantial revenue or private equity firm investments, there’s never been more money involved with owning a team in a professional sports league. 

The rapid expansion of legalized sports betting is certainly a primary contributor to the increased valuation of major sports franchises. This form of entertainment is widely accessible on several highly reputable sportsbooks, which also offer fantastic sportsbook promos to claim as a newly registered customer.  

Now that we’re seeing ownership engage in highly lucrative sales across most major sports leagues, expect a lot more transactions within the next five to ten years. Currently, the Chicago White Sox have entered an agreement that could lead to the franchise being sold before 2030. 

The NFL has cornered the market when it comes to viewership. The league’s most popular team, the Dallas Cowboys, are currently valued at $10.1 billion, slightly more than what Mark Walter just paid to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The Los Angeles Rams are another NFL team that is among the five most valued professional sports franchises. Owned by Stan Kroenke, who became the sole owner in 2010 after holding a 30 percent stake when the franchise was located in St. Louis, the Rams’ location in one of the country’s biggest cities certainly factors into their value on the market. 

The Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and New York Yankees round out the top five teams in market valuation. Notice that all of these teams, excluding the Cowboys, are located in either California or New York City. 

That said, there are NFL franchises located in smaller markets, like the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, and Seattle Seahawks that could soon find themselves up for sale. This also includes the Chargers, who are currently based in Los Angeles.  

The NBA has been the busiest seller in 2025 with the Celtics and Lakers. It’s fair to expect that another team in their league, likely the Warriors, who were last bought by Joe Lacob and Peter Gueber for $450 million in 2010, could be the next major franchise for sale.