The National Football League (NFL) has signed a long term lease for approximately 175,000 square feet of space at the Rudin Family’s signature 44-story blockthrough office tower at 345 Park Avenue for its new headquarters.
The league expects to relocate from its current home at 280 Park Avenue to its new facilities sometime during the Third Quarter of 2011.
In addition to taking three entire full floors (5, 6, & 7) comprising nearly 150,000 square feet, the NFL also leased approximately 30,000 square feet of below-grade space at the building, which could be used for various operational and administrative departments.
“We’re delighted that the most respected and successful league in all of professional sport has chosen 345 Park Avenue, with its spacious floor plates and exceptional amenities, for its new home,” stated William C. Rudin, CEO and Vice Chairman of Rudin Management Company, the operating arm of the Rudin Family holdings.
“Having owned and operated first-class buildings for decades, the Rudin family is well known not only in the industry but to the NFL as well,” said Eric Grubman, Executive Vice President of NFL Ventures and Business Operations. “We look forward to moving into this terrific space. It is an outstanding building and will enable us to be more efficient,” he added.
Representing the NFL in the 20-year office leasing transaction was Franklin Speyer and Lou D’Avanzo of Cushman & Wakefield together with Peter Hennessy and Daoud Awad of Jones Lang LaSalle. Tom Keating of Rudin Management Company represented the building’s owner.
Formed by 11 teams in 1920 as the American Profession Football Association, the NFL today consists of 32 teams and is by far the nation’s most popular sports league. Its “crowning” achievement - - the Super Bowl - - is the most watched annual sporting event in the United States.