In a landmark deal, the Miami Dolphins and Chairman of the Board Stephen M. Ross have announced a strategic investment by Ares Management funds (Ares) and Brooklyn Nets owners Joe Tsai and Oliver Weisberg. In addition to the Miami Dolphins, the transaction includes iconic assets such as Hard Rock Stadium and the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, with the investment fueling continued growth across Ross' diverse South Florida-based sports and entertainment portfolio. Ares will acquire a 10% stake, while Tsai and Weisberg together will hold a 3% interest, pending final closing of the agreements. The minority, non-controlling interest sale was approved by the NFL at the league meeting on Wednesday, December 11.
Ross, a South Florida native who acquired the Miami Dolphins in 2009, has spent 15 years investing in and revolutionizing South Florida's sports and entertainment landscape. He has spearheaded and privately financed more than $1 billion of sweeping modernization efforts in the region, elevating Hard Rock Stadium into a premier global sports and entertainment destination. These upgrades have secured the stadium's role as a host for marquee events that have generated billions in economic impact for South Florida, including Super Bowl LIV, the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, the Miami Open tennis tournament, the 2026 FIFA World Cup and high-profile concerts like Taylor Swift's _Eras Tour_.
"As we continue our relentless pursuit of building a best-in-class organization, we were fortunate to attract significant interest from multiple investors, which gave us the opportunity to be highly selective in choosing partners who align with our core values and long-term vision," said Stephen Ross. "I couldn't be happier to welcome Ares, Joe, and Ollie to our investment group. They each bring invaluable expertise to the table, with a shared commitment to innovation, growth and doing things first class. Together, with the resources from this transaction, we will prioritize continued investment into the Dolphins, additional sports assets and South Florida real estate to fuel dynamic growth and innovation in the region for years to come."
Ares Management, a leading global alternative investment manager with $464 billion in assets under management, brings extensive experience investing in sports, media and entertainment opportunities. This transaction marks Ares' entry into NFL ownership, expanding an existing portfolio that includes professional sports team investments in Inter Miami CF, McLaren Racing and Atlético de Madrid, among others.
"The Miami Dolphins represent an iconic franchise with a deeply engaged fanbase, and Ares is honored to invest alongside Joe and Ollie to support the team's long-term strategic goals," said Mark Affolter and Jim Miller, Co-Heads Sports, Media & Entertainment at Ares. "Moreover, Steve has been the architect of an impressive ecosystem of sports, entertainment and real estate assets that underscores the sector's significant potential for growth and value creation to the benefit of fans, local communities and financial stakeholders. We look forward to working with Steve to continue unlocking new and exciting opportunities ahead."
"I am privileged to have the opportunity to invest with Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross, a world-class operator," said Joe Tsai. "He has an incredible collection of premier assets – the iconic Miami Dolphins franchise, state-of-the-art venue in Hard Rock Stadium, and a fantastic events business of global sports brands such as F1 Miami Grand Prix and the Miami Open."
Bruce Beal, Jr. will continue in his role as vice chairman and partner.
BDT & MSD Partners served as principal advisor on the investment, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal counsel to Ross and the Dolphins. The transaction is expected to close in the coming days.