Recent Sports and Entertainment Investment Spotlight
Market intelligence — sports capital deals, valuations, and transaction headlines curated by the Capital Forge team and AI resources.
Recent Deals
Savannah James Invests in LOVB Los Angeles
Property: LOVB Los Angeles
Investors: Savannah James
Savannah James, wife of NBA legend LeBron James, is stepping into professional sports ownership, investing in LOVB Los Angeles ahead of the women's volleyball franchise's 2026-27 debut. The move adds another high-profile figure to the rapidly growing wave of capital flowing into women's professional sports.
Apollo's Rumored 16% Stake in the Yankees
Property: Yankee Global Enterprises (New York Yankees)
Investors: Apollo Sports Capital
The reported $2.6bn investment by Apollo Sports Capital could give the firm a 16% stake in Yankee Global Enterprises, implying a valuation of $12bn+ for the New York Yankees ownership group. Post-deal ownership: Steinbrenner family 60%+, Apollo Sports Capital ~16%, other minority investors ~24%. According to reports, Apollo would acquire an 8% equity stake immediately, plus preferred shares convertible into an additional 8% after four years, taking its ownership to 16%. If approved as structured, the transaction would also be notable because MLB currently limits private equity ownership to 15% per firm, meaning a league waiver may be required for Apollo to reach a full 16% stake.
Jalen Brunson Launches Thirty Third Management Group
Property: Thirty Third Management Group
Investors: Jalen Brunson, Sandra Brunson, Ali Marks, Erica Brunson
NBA champion Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is launching Thirty Third Management Group, a family-run advisory firm that will handle his off-court business ventures while representing outside clients as well. His mother, Sandra, will serve as president, with prominent roles for his wife, Ali Marks, and sister, Erica. The group plans to focus particularly on women's sports, Sandra Brunson told Bloomberg. As sports consultant Neve Clark notes, athletes are now 'owning what comes next.'
Bruin Capital Sells Full Swing Simulator to Versant Media
Property: Full Swing Simulators
Investors: Bruin Capital (seller); Versant Media (buyer)
Bruin Capital completed the sale of its portfolio company Full Swing — the golf simulator and launch monitor technology provider used by tour pros and top golf facilities — to Versant Media, just five years after acquiring the company. The exit underscores Bruin Capital's strategy of building sports technology businesses and monetizing them at scale.
Clearlake Capital Nears Buyout of Boehly & Walter Stakes in Chelsea FC
Property: Chelsea Football Club
Investors: Clearlake Capital Group (buyer); Mark Walter, Todd Boehly (sellers)
Billionaire investors Mark Walter and Todd Boehly are close to selling their stakes (each ~12.8%) in Chelsea Football Club to majority owner Clearlake Capital Group, which already holds a 61.5% majority stake. Buying out both would push Clearlake's share past 87%, consolidating total governance and eliminating long-standing strategic tensions between Boehly and Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali over the club's direction and stadium plans. Reports value the full buyout around £5 billion. The move follows Walter's $12.5bn sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner, and underscores the surge in sports franchise valuations as billionaires and institutional investors increasingly treat teams as an investable asset class.
Bain Capital provides Playfly Sports with $250 million senior credit facility
Property: Playfly Sports
Investors: Bain Capital
Bain Capital provided Playfly Sports, the sports media, marketing, and technology company, with a $250 million senior credit facility to support its growth and expansion.
ADvantage & LEAD Sports Health & Tech Partners Consortium Acquires 90% of Estrela da Amadora SAD
Property: Estrela da Amadora SAD
Investors: ADvantage (sports tech VC), LEAD Sports Health & Tech Partners, KI Group, Thomas Müller, Mats Hummels, Yann Sommer, Lucas Hernández
A consortium led by ADvantage (a sports tech venture capital fund) and LEAD Sports Health & Tech Partners, with KI Group as technology partner and strategic football investors Thomas Müller, Mats Hummels, Yann Sommer, and Lucas Hernández, completed the purchase of a 90% majority stake in Estrela da Amadora's SAD (the corporate entity managing the professional team) for approximately €40 million. Former Bayern Munich executive Johannes Mösmang was appointed chairman of the club under the new ownership structure.
Alex Rodriguez Increases Equity Stake in Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx
Property: Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) & Minnesota Lynx (WNBA)
Investors: Alex Rodriguez, Marc Stad (Dragoneer)
Alex Rodriguez increased his equity stake alongside Marc Stad (Dragoneer) in the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) and Minnesota Lynx (WNBA) following a $4.5 billion transaction.
Otro Capital & University of Utah Establish Crimson Brand Partners
Property: University of Utah Athletics
Investors: Otro Capital, University of Utah
Otro Capital and the University of Utah established Crimson Brand Partners, a structured $500 million commercial venture to manage the university's athletics operations, media rights, and ticketing revenue streams. The partnership represents a new model for institutional capital deployment into college athletics, bundling commercial rights and operations under a PE-backed entity.
Drake Acts as Investor & Dealmaker for Venezia FC Capital Raise
Property: Venezia FC (Serie A)
Investors: Drake
Drake acted as an investor and key dealmaker for Serie A club Venezia FC, personally structuring capital inflows from major institutional co-investors during their €100 million raise.
Rocco Benetton (Gamma Waves Partners) Launches Permanent-Capital Holding Vehicle
Property: European Football, Motorsport & Media Assets
Investors: Rocco Benetton, Gamma Waves Partners
Rocco Benetton (Gamma Waves Partners) launched a permanent-capital holding vehicle anchored by Benetton family capital to acquire direct European football, motorsport, and media assets.
Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Acquire Controlling Stake in San Diego Padres
Property: San Diego Padres (MLB)
Investors: Kwanza Jones, José E. Feliciano
Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano executed a $3.9 billion buyout for a controlling stake in MLB's San Diego Padres, using personal family office balance sheets rather than institutional private equity funds.
Panda Express Founders (Cherng Family) Join Portland Trail Blazers Purchase
Property: Portland Trail Blazers (NBA)
Investors: Cherng Family (Panda Express Founders), Tom Dundon
Panda Express founders (the Cherng Family) joined Tom Dundon's ownership group to purchase the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers at a $4.25 billion valuation.
Jindal Family Office (JSW Group) Expands International Sports Tech Investments
Property: International Sports Tech, Youth Academies & Performance Platforms
Investors: Jindal Family Office (JSW Group)
Jindal Family Office (JSW Group) expanded direct investments into international sports tech, youth academies, and performance platforms.
Vinod Khosla Family Office Acquires Controlling Stake in Seattle Seahawks
Property: Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
Investors: Vinod Khosla Family Office (Khosla Ventures)
Vinod Khosla's Family Office (Khosla Ventures) acquired the controlling stake in the NFL's Seattle Seahawks for a record $9.61 billion. This marks one of the largest single-family office control buyouts in professional sports history.
Hoffmann Family of Companies Acquires Controlling Interest in Pittsburgh Penguins
Property: Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Investors: Hoffmann Family of Companies
Hoffmann Family of Companies acquired the controlling interest in the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins at a $1.75 billion valuation.
Patrick Zalupski Family Office Leads Acquisition of Tampa Bay Rays
Property: Tampa Bay Rays (MLB)
Investors: Patrick Zalupski Family Office
Patrick Zalupski Family Office led the acquisition of a controlling stake in the MLB's Tampa Bay Rays for $1.70 billion.
Angel Reese Joins Ownership Group of Brisbane Bullets (WNBL)
Property: Brisbane Bullets (WNBL)
Investors: Angel Reese
Angel Reese joined the ownership group of Australia's Brisbane Bullets in the WNBL. The WNBA star expands her investment reach into international women's basketball ownership.
Pau Gasol (Gasol16 Ventures) Submits €55M Proposal to Manage Liga F Rights
Property: Liga F (Spain's Women's Football League)
Investors: Pau Gasol, Gasol16 Ventures
Pau Gasol, through Gasol16 Ventures, submitted a €55 million commercial proposal to manage the commercial rights for Spain's women's football league, Liga F. The bid signals growing institutional and athlete-led investment in women's football commercial operations.
Travis Kelce Acquires Ownership Stake in Cleveland Guardians
Property: Cleveland Guardians (MLB)
Investors: Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce acquired an ownership stake in MLB's Cleveland Guardians, a franchise valued at approximately $1.7 billion. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end continues expanding his sports ownership portfolio.
Thibaut Courtois (NXTPLAY) Acquires Stakes in CD Extremadura & KRC Genk
Property: CD Extremadura (Spain) & KRC Genk (Belgium)
Investors: Thibaut Courtois, NXTPLAY
Thibaut Courtois, through NXTPLAY, secured ownership stakes in Spanish football club CD Extremadura and Belgian side KRC Genk. The Real Madrid goalkeeper continues building a multi-club football investment portfolio.
Versant Media Group Acquires Full Swing from Bruin Capital
Property: Full Swing (Sports Technology & Simulator Leader)
Investors: Versant Media Group
Versant Media Group acquired sports technology and simulator leader Full Swing from Bruin Capital for $530 million. Full Swing is the market-leading golf simulator and sports technology company, known for high-end indoor simulators used by professional golfers and premium consumers worldwide.
Claravista Investment Partners Completes Investment in Serie A Club Frosinone Calcio
Property: Frosinone Calcio
Investors: Claravista Investment Partners, The Players Impact
The Players Impact curated the opportunity, giving investors the ability to invest in an exciting Serie A team poised for success. Drew Kronick served as a principal on the deal.
TGL (TMRW Sports Golf League) Backed by Tiger Woods & Rory McIlroy Investor Group
Property: TGL — TMRW Sports Golf League
Investors: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Connect Ventures, LVMH, Arthur Blank (Atlanta Falcons), Steve Cohen (NY Mets), Alexis Ohanian
TGL (TMRW Sports Golf League), founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, is backed by Connect Ventures, LVMH, Arthur Blank (Atlanta Falcons owner), Steve Cohen (NY Mets owner), and Alexis Ohanian.
SailGP Draws Major Investments from Mubadala, Avenue Sports Fund & Will Smith
Property: SailGP (Sailing)
Investors: Mubadala Investment Company, Avenue Sports Fund (Marc Lasry), Will Smith
SailGP was valued at over $550 million, drawing investments from Mubadala Investment Company, Avenue Sports Fund (Marc Lasry), and Will Smith.
Apollo Sports Capital Leads $225M Investment in Pickleball Inc. at $750M Valuation
Property: Pickleball Inc. (Carvana PPA Tour & Major League Pickleball)
Investors: Apollo Sports Capital, Tom Dundon
Apollo Sports Capital led a landmark $225 million structured investment into Pickleball Inc. (the unified parent company of the Carvana PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball) at a $750 million enterprise valuation.
QSI Acquires World Padel Tour to Unify Global Circuit as Premier Padel
Property: World Padel Tour / Premier Padel
Investors: Qatar Sports Investments (QSI)
Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) acquired the World Padel Tour to create a single unified global circuit, Premier Padel, backed by sovereign capital.
Saudi Arabia's PIF Enters Strategic Partnership with Premier Padel
Property: Premier Padel
Investors: Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) entered strategic partnership deals with Premier Padel.
Pro Padel League (PPL) Closes Multi-Million-Dollar Series A
Property: Pro Padel League (PPL)
Investors: Rick Pitino, Daddy Yankee, Daddy Yankee's group
The U.S.-based Pro Padel League closed multi-million-dollar Series A funding rounds, drawing franchise owners like Rick Pitino, Daddy Yankee, and Daddy Yankee's group.
Major League Cricket (MLC) Raises $120M+ Expansion Capital
Property: Major League Cricket (MLC)
Investors: Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO), Shantanu Narayen (Adobe CEO)
Major League Cricket (MLC) raised over $120 million in expansion capital, backed by tech leaders including Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO) and Shantanu Narayen (Adobe CEO).
BIG3 Growth Round — $17M Raise Ahead of Public Listing ($290M Valuation)
Property: BIG3 (Los Angeles-based professional basketball league)
Investors: Athlon, Gary Vaynerchuk, LL COOL J, INC. J, Sundeep Madra, John Angelos, and Bill Lee
BIG3 (@TheBig3), the Los Angeles based professional basketball league founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz, raised $17 million in a growth round including Athlon as well as Gary Vaynerchuk, LL COOL J, INC. J, Sundeep Madra, John Angelos and Bill Lee. The funding comes ahead as BIG3 prepares to become publicly traded in a transaction valuing the league at $290 million, following the sale of multiple franchises for $10 million each and positioning the league for further U.S. and international expansion.
Marc Stad / Dragoneer buys majority of Marc Lore's stake in Timberwolves & Lynx
Property: Minnesota Timberwolves & Minnesota Lynx
Investors: Marc Stad / Dragoneer Investment Group (buying from Marc Lore)
Marc Stad, founder of San Francisco growth investment firm Dragoneer Investment Group, is buying the majority of Marc Lore's stake in the Timberwolves and the WNBA's Lynx at a $4.5 billion enterprise valuation.
Apollo's $2.6B Yankees Deal — Hybrid Financing (MLB Bans PE Ownership)
Property: New York Yankees (MLB)
Investors: Apollo Global Management
Apollo's $2.6B deal with the Yankees reveals why MLB teams are cheaper than comparable NFL franchises. MLB bans private equity ownership — PE can finance teams but can't own them. The NFL allows up to 10% PE stakes; the NBA loosened rules to 8%; both have seen valuations spike as institutional capital competes for minority stakes. Because MLB's door stays closed, the Steinbrenners structured Apollo's capital as hybrid financing — essentially senior debt with upside — rather than direct equity.
Gregory Scott Acquires Riverside Pro Soccer (USL)
Property: Riverside Pro Soccer (USL)
Investors: Gregory Scott
Gregory Scott acquires ownership stake in Riverside Pro Soccer, a USL soccer club.
Kevin Durant & Rich Kleiman partner with Lobos Hospitality to launch Austin Sports Club
Property: Austin Sports Club
Investors: Kevin Durant, Rich Kleiman (35V / Boardroom), Lobos Hospitality
Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman (35V / Boardroom) have invested alongside Lobos Hospitality to launch the Austin Sports Club — a new premium dining and entertainment destination in Austin, Texas. The venue will feature elevated dining within a sports culture, viewing parties, and championship events, blending hospitality with live sports experiences.
Apollo Sports Capital invests $225M in Pickleball Inc. with Dundon Capital
Property: Pickleball Inc.
Investors: Apollo Sports Capital, Dundon Capital
Apollo Sports Capital has invested $225 million in Pickleball Inc. in partnership with Dundon Capital, owners of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. The investment consolidates professional pickleball's premier tour and league assets under a unified capital structure, accelerating the sport's rapid commercial growth.
Josh Kushner purchases majority stake in LA Lakers for $12.5B
Property: LA Lakers
Investors: Josh Kushner
Josh Kushner has purchased a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion, marking one of the largest franchise valuations in NBA history and the first majority ownership change of the iconic franchise since the Buss family acquired the team in 1979.
Arctos Partners acquires 10% of Atlanta Falcons in two-part transaction
Property: Atlanta Falcons (10% stake)
Investors: Arctos Partners
Arctos Partners has acquired a 10% stake in the Atlanta Falcons through a two-part transaction, continuing the private equity firm's expansion into NFL franchise ownership. The deal adds another marquee NFL franchise to Arctos's growing sports portfolio.
Woody Johnson invests in Aston Martin Formula 1 Team
Property: Aston Martin Formula 1 Team
Investors: Woody Johnson
Woody Johnson has invested in the Aston Martin Formula 1 Team, adding the iconic F1 constructor to his sports ownership portfolio. The investment continues the trend of prominent US-based investors entering Formula 1.
Kwanza Jones & Jose E. Feliciano invest in San Diego Padres for $3.9B
Property: San Diego Padres (MLB)
Investors: Kwanza Jones, Jose E. Feliciano
Kwanza Jones and Jose E. Feliciano have invested in the San Diego Padres in a transaction valued at $3.9 billion, marking a landmark MLB franchise investment and expanding the power couple's sports ownership portfolio.
Blue Owl Capital's Dyal HomeCourt Partners in Advanced Talks for Minority Stake in Cleveland Cavaliers
Property: Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
Investors: Blue Owl Capital (via Dyal HomeCourt Partners)
Blue Owl Capital — through its Dyal HomeCourt Partners fund — entered advanced talks for a minority stake in the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. Dyal HomeCourt Partners is Blue Owl's dedicated sports franchise minority-investment vehicle, joining a wave of private equity capital deploying into NBA team equity.
Fenway Sports Group Acquires Boston Common Golf WTGL Franchise
Property: Boston Common Golf (WTGL)
Investors: Fenway Sports Group (FSG)
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) added a fifth logo to its sports portfolio, acquiring Boston Common Golf's franchise in WTGL — the new women's professional team golf league built by TMRW Sports in partnership with the LPGA. It joins Boston Common Golf's existing men's team in TGL, the tech-forward indoor format where teams compete head-to-head in prime-time broadcasts with every shot tracked live. WTGL becomes the fifth ownership group in the league, following Arthur Blank, Alexis Ohanian, Steve Cohen, and the Hamp Kelleher group — each of whom also owns a men's TGL franchise.
LOVB Pro Hires Inner Circle Sports as Strategic Advisor
Property: LOVB Pro (League One Volleyball)
Investors: Inner Circle Sports
LOVB Pro has hired Inner Circle Sports to advise its executive leadership on expansion markets, ownership opportunities, and long-term strategy.
LOVB Austin Investor Group — G9 Ventures, Bolt Ventures & Spurs Sports & Entertainment
Property: LOVB Austin (League One Volleyball)
Investors: G9 Ventures; Bolt Ventures; Spurs Sports & Entertainment
League One Volleyball Austin investor group includes LOVB Austin, the two-time defending champion, which is co-owned by G9 Ventures, Bolt Ventures, and Spurs Sports & Entertainment — the group behind the San Antonio Spurs.
Synergy Sports Capital Takes Over LOVB Salt Lake City Operations
Property: LOVB Salt Lake City (League One Volleyball)
Investors: Synergy Sports Capital (Terrence Murphy Sr., Reggie Bush)
Synergy Sports Capital, a private equity fund led by former NFL players Terrence Murphy Sr. and Reggie Bush, invested in the league and took over operating rights to LOVB Salt Lake City.
Neeru Khosla Becomes Controlling Owner of Seattle Seahawks in Record $9.6B Sale
Property: Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
Investors: Neeru Khosla
Neeru Khosla is set to become the controlling owner of the Seattle Seahawks in a record $9.6 billion sale — the highest price ever paid for an NFL team. This marks the first time a woman has become a controlling owner in the NFL without inheriting the position.
Compagnie des Alpes Invests €20M in PadelCity
Property: PadelCity
Investors: Compagnie des Alpes (French leisure group)
PadelCity, founded in Munich in 2022 by Hansi Flick alongside Jonathan Sierck, Sebastian Weil, and Markus Englert, has taken on French leisure group Compagnie des Alpes as a strategic investor in a deal worth €20 million total. The investment underscores the rapid growth of padel as a sport and the involvement of high-profile football figures in racket sports infrastructure.
Udonis Haslem Becomes Minority Owner of Ipswich Town FC
Property: Ipswich Town FC (EFL Championship / Premier League)
Investors: Udonis Haslem (3x NBA Champion)
Three-time NBA champion Udonis Haslem revealed this month that he became a minority owner of Ipswich Town FC last September, buying into the club while it was still playing in the Championship. The timing of that bet — before the club's promotion push — is the most interesting part of the story, highlighting the growing trend of NBA players investing in English football at the Championship level.
CardVault by Tom Brady Names First Strategic Investor Group
Property: CardVault (Tom Brady-founded athlete card / collectibles brand)
Investors: RedBird Capital Partners (Gerry Cardinale); Silver Lake (Egon Durban, Greg Mondre); JAY-Z; Dana White; Aaron Judge; Connor McDavid; John Henry (Fenway Sports Group); Wyc Grousbeck (former Boston Celtics majority owner); The Kraft Group
CardVault by Tom Brady named its first strategic investor group this week, and the roster spans private equity, media, music and the locker room in a single announcement. RedBird Capital Partners founder Gerry Cardinale and Silver Lake co-CEOs Egon Durban and Greg Mondre bring institutional capital and operating experience. JAY-Z and Dana White bring cultural reach well outside traditional sports media. Aaron Judge and Connor McDavid bring active athlete equity in a category built entirely around athlete fandom. Fenway Sports Group's John Henry, former Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck and The Kraft Group add a layer of ownership credibility that few consumer retail brands can claim. Financial terms and the size of the raise were not disclosed.
KKR Acquires Arctos Sports Partners for $1.4B
Property: Arctos Sports Partners
Investors: KKR (acquirer); Arctos Sports Partners (acquired)
In 2026, KKR acquired Arctos Sports Partners for $1.4bn. Arctos has acquired stakes in 35+ teams across the NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL, and MLS — making it the only investment firm approved to own interests in all five of North America's major leagues. Its portfolio has since expanded beyond North America into European football, with investments in clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool Football Club. It primarily focuses on deploying minority investments in teams. The portfolio spans multiple sports: Baseball — 9 assets; Basketball — 8; Football — 7; Ice Hockey — 6; American Football — 3; Motorsports — 2. The firm also invests in companies in the consumer-facing sports ecosystem such as ticketing platform SeatGeek, sports betting geo-compliance software GeoComply, and sports consulting firm Elevate. The deal gives Arctos the resources to pursue sports investments beyond its existing markets, with the IPL already emerging as a potential opportunity.
Hottest Sports for Capital (by Deal Volume)
Valuation Benchmarks
| Asset Type | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Minor League Franchise | $2M – $25M |
| Stadium / Arena Development | $50M – $500M+ |
| Media Rights Package | $5M – $100M |
| Training Facility | $10M – $75M |
| Esports Franchise | $5M – $50M |
Sports Capital Report
- • PE investment in sports up 23% YoY
- • Soccer and esports lead deal volume
- • Institutional capital increasingly active
- • Average deal size: $47M across all segments