洛杉矶湖人队所有权发生变更，Thrive Capital合伙人Josh Kushner与前迪士尼首席执行官Bob Iger以125亿美元（约合177亿澳元）的价格完成收购，交易已达成最终协议[1]。这一价格创造了美国职业体育特许经营权的历史纪录，超越了今年早些时候西雅图海鹰队96亿美元的交易[1]。
该交易在短短3至4天内完成谈判，最终协议在过去24小时内达成[1]。卖方为古根海姆合伙公司首席执行官Mark Walter，他在一年多前曾以100亿美元的价格收购了湖人队多数股权[1]。传奇球星Magic Johnson在社交媒体X平台上对新的所有权结构表示支持，称"湖人球迷们，你们不可能有两个更好的老板"[1]。
Josh Kushner, a partner at Thrive Capital, and Bob Iger, the former chief executive of Disney, have acquired the Los Angeles Lakers in a landmark transaction valued at $12.5 billion USD ($17.7 billion AUD), marking the highest price ever paid for a North American professional sports franchise.[1] The negotiations were completed within three to four days, with the final agreement reached within the past 24 hours.[1] This unprecedented valuation surpasses the previous record set by the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise sale at $9.6 billion.[1]
The deal represents a significant gain for the outgoing ownership group led by Mark Walter, chief executive of Guggenheim Partners, who purchased the team's majority stake approximately one year ago for $10 billion USD.[1] The sale comes as the NBA enters a new broadcasting era, with Disney, Comcast, and Amazon having recently signed an 11-year media rights agreement worth $7.6 billion.[1]
The acquisition has garnered support from basketball legend Magic Johnson, who posted on X platform: "Laker fans, you couldn't have two better owners."[1]