The NFL has invested $95 million in sports retailer Fanatics, giving the league a three percent stake in the company.

The league made the investment in search a greater return on the rise in the sale of its merchandise.

Fanatics is valued at $3.17 billion. The strategy for the NFL is to get a cut of the upside from the company's growing business.

Major League Baseball also recently purchased a stake in Fanatics, a $50 million piece, which is said to be for 1.5 percent of the company.