The San Francisco 49ers are at it again, this time eyeing a potential sale of up to 10% of the team. And who might be the lucky bidders? Oh, just your usual suspects, private equity firms and the kind of wealthy individuals who subscribe to the ‘money can buy happiness’ philosophy. With a valuation floating around an eye-watering $9 billion, it seems the York family is ready to let someone else in on the action at Levi’s Stadium.

Let’s get real about this for a moment. The 49ers are contemplating bringing in more wealthy folks into their exclusive club, and it’s not just for fun. Following a year when NFL owners voted to allow private equity investment in their franchises, this sale could open the floodgates for more teams to cash in on that sweet, sweet investment money. NFL big wigs like the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills have already welcomed rich investors into their ownership ranks.

Now, it seems the 49ers want a piece of that action. Jed York, the team’s CEO and heir apparent to the York fortune, is presumably calculating how to turn a minor stake into major bucks. Keep in mind that while this private equity sale might get them some cash flow, the investors won’t get to call the shots, no voting rights for them. But hey, the perks of sitting in the owner’s box during games might just be the cherry on top for the big spenders. Maybe they’ll bring their high-powered friends along for some corporate schmoozing.

It’s also important to consider the 49ers not only as just a football franchise but as a part of a larger empire. The owner has connections to Leeds United, a beleaguered UK football club that’s gone through its fair share of ups and downs. Talk about needing deeper pockets!

However, this isn’t just about making the furniture richer; it’s about liquidating portions of the team to pave the way for future improvements, a.k.a. fixing up that shiny stadium or scouting for the next football prodigy so fans can cheer for some actual wins instead of just overpriced nachos.

In the world of sports, finding new ways to separate the wealthy from their money is just part of the game. Meanwhile, the fans in the stands (or not standing on account of ticket prices) will continue to grapple with the cosmic injustice of watching billionaires play Monopoly with the teams they love. Let’s hope at least one rich investor has the good sense to keep an eye on the sidelines and maybe do some actual good with their new stake!