By the Cosmos Franchise Sales Team | July 31, 2025
The sale of the Los Angeles Lakers for a reported $10 billion may have grabbed headlines around the world, but it’s far from a one-off. Just months earlier, the Boston Celtics were sold for $6 billion, and the Tampa Bay Rays reportedly changed hands for $1.7 billion. According to a recent report from CNN, these record-breaking deals are part of a clear and accelerating trend: sports franchise valuations are soaring — and not just in the major leagues.
While billion-dollar deals dominate the news cycle, they’re also reshaping the landscape for sports ownership at every level. With the barrier to entry for teams in leagues like the NBA, NFL, or MLB becoming increasingly unattainable for all but the wealthiest buyers, attention is shifting to more accessible but still valuable properties — including junior hockey teams, minor league baseball clubs, lacrosse franchises, and regional sports properties across North America.
As CNN’s Chris Isidore and Matt Egan report, the reasons behind the valuation boom are grounded in both scarcity and strategy. There are only so many professional sports franchises to go around, and when supply is limited and demand continues to grow, prices rise. Add to that the fact that live sports remain one of the last dependable ways to reach mass audiences — especially in a fractured media landscape — and it becomes clear why team ownership has become such a premium opportunity.
Franchises are no longer seen simply as passion projects or vanity assets. They are increasingly viewed as scalable businesses — with data-rich customer bases, sponsorship potential, media rights, and community value — and their financial trajectories reflect that shift.
But what often gets overlooked is that these same drivers are also lifting interest and value in non-major-league sports properties.
At Cosmos Sports & Entertainment, we’re seeing it firsthand. Across Canada and the U.S., there is growing demand for junior hockey franchises, minor league baseball teams, and other lower-tier properties that once flew under the radar. These teams offer a far lower entry point for investors, but with many of the same benefits: strong community engagement, loyal fanbases, real estate and venue partnerships, and the potential for long-term appreciation.
This is especially true in markets where teams are already embedded in the fabric of the city or town. A Junior A hockey club in Ontario, for example, might not generate national headlines, but it could offer consistent revenue through ticketing, merchandise, sponsorship, and local partnerships — and be acquired for a fraction of what even a minority stake in a major league team would cost.
Just as important is the fact that many of these lower-tier teams still offer room to grow. With smart operations and strategic marketing, they can increase attendance, elevate their brand, and improve valuation in a relatively short timeframe. For investors who want to be more hands-on — or who want to own 100% of a team rather than a sliver of a larger group — these teams offer control, impact, and upside.
As the CNN article notes, “new money” continues to flood into the sports space, with high-net-worth individuals and investment groups eager to secure their slice of the market. That surge of interest is being felt not just in boardrooms at the top of the sports hierarchy, but also in local rinks, ballparks, and arenas where the next generation of sports business is quietly growing.
Cosmos has long operated in this space — helping to buy, sell, and develop franchises in junior hockey, minor pro leagues, and emerging sports. As demand accelerates, our role becomes even more important: identifying value, navigating the sales process, and supporting owners on both sides of the deal.
What’s clear is that the sports franchise market is not cooling off — if anything, it’s becoming more competitive and dynamic. While big-league prices may grab the spotlight, the real opportunity for many buyers lies just beneath the surface: owning a team that makes an impact locally while growing in value nationally.
For those who have dreamed of owning a team — and are now watching the billion-dollar headlines with disbelief — the good news is this: the next great sports property might not be in a major stadium. It could be in a packed community arena or a downtown ballpark with room to grow.
Exploring Ownership Opportunities?
At Cosmos Sports & Entertainment, we specialize in franchise sales across junior hockey, minor league baseball, and emerging sports. If you’re considering buying or selling a team, we can help guide the process from start to finish. Contact us to learn more.
Source:
Portions of this article reference reporting from ESPN’s June 18 story, “Buss family to sell Lakers to Mark Walter for $10B valuation.”
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