How 330+ clubs are controlled by 17 global ownership groups

The Rise of Emerging Sports Leagues A new wave of sports innovation is taking shape — led by entrepreneurs who are redefining what a “league” can be. These founders are building modern, media-driven, tech-enabled ecosystems around sports that were once considered niche. Some of the standout leaders: • Charles Allen – INTENNSE • Chase Richardson – Full Pull • Jake Hoselton – Grass League • Anthony Dittmann – OmegaBall • Nic Sulsky – The Curling Group • Jeff Spring – Disc Golf Pro Tour • Paul Rigault – Døds Diving League • Dr. Aron Souza – Enhanced Games • Omer Atesman – The Snow League • Alex Bazzell – Unrivaled Basketball • Johnny Grave – Major League Cricket • Alex Van Alen – World League FlingGolf • Keith Stein – Women’s Pro Baseball League • Connor Lim– International Dance League (IDL) Each of these leagues reflects the same macro trend — the unbundling of traditional sports and the rise of fan-first, format-flexible, and globally scalable competitions. From alternative formats and media-friendly rules to digital-first community building, this is where the next generation of fandom, investment, and innovation will be born. #SportsBusiness #SportsInnovation #EmergingSports #SportsTech #FanEngagement #SportsInvestment #FutureOfSports

The most successful revenue models for emerging sports leagues in 2025 combine digital-first engagement, diversified media rights, creative sponsorships, fan-driven monetization, and flexible event strategies. These approaches are focused on maximizing reach, direct-to-fan sales, and sustainable partnerships, tapping into both traditional streams and new channels enabled by technology and shifting fan behaviors. Key Revenue Streams - Media Rights & Digital Distribution  Securing broadcast and streaming deals allows leagues to reach massive audiences globally, with content often tailored for digital platforms like Peacock, YouTube, and social-first consumption (as seen with leagues like Grass League and Døds Diving League).  Some use pay-per-view models, direct-to-consumer streaming, and partner affiliate networks, maximizing both accessibility and monetization (e.g., Døds Diving League/Recast partnership). - Sponsorship & Brand Partnerships  Early-stage leagues leverage creative sponsorships for events, teams, and content series (brands like Red Bull, Heineken, and sportswear partners are prominent).  Customized partnership packages help leagues monetize via branded activations, hospitality, and product integrations, tailored to events and social media experiences. - Ticket Sales & Event Hospitality  Live competitions drive revenue through admission tickets and hospitality offerings, including food trucks, music, and VIP experiences that blend sports with entertainment. - Team Sales & Franchise Fees Some leagues generate income by selling team franchises or city-level partnerships, fueling expansion and local fan engagement (as with the Grass League and OmegaBall’s planned growth strategies). - Memberships & Subscriptions  Creating tiered membership communities provides perks like exclusive content, VIP access, and direct engagement experiences, recurring revenue, and increased fan retention. - Athlete Merchandise & Signature Products  Disc Golf Pro Tour and similar leagues succeed by offering signature merchandise, fundraiser products, branded equipment, and limited runs, with players earning commissions and sponsors offering bonuses for performance. - Prize Money & Salaries  Innovative leagues (INTENNSE, Disc Golf Pro Tour) offer base salaries, prize purses, and incentive structures to attract and retain top talent, sometimes supported by investor funding and sponsorships. - Fan Tokenization & Web3 Monetization  Emerging platforms leverage blockchain for fan tokens, NFTs, and smart contracts, creating new loyalty, trading, and gamified revenue streams for leagues with tech-savvy audiences. Leagues that succeed typically blend multiple revenue channels, optimize fan engagement through digital content, and continually experiment with new media, membership tiers, and partnership ideas. Direct-to-fan sales, flexible access, and strong brand collaborations are essential pillars for sustained growth.

⚽ The Next Chapter in Multi-Club Ownership I’ve been watching the multi-club ownership (MCO) trend evolve for years but the past few weeks mark a real inflection point. 🔥 Recent moves: 🇪🇸 Velocity Sports Partners (Burnley) → acquired RCD Espanyol (~€200m) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Eagle Football (John Textor) → sold 43% of Crystal Palace to Woody Johnson, aligning with UEFA’s MCO rules 🇮🇹 Brera Holdings → completed its Juve Stabia majority 🇫🇷 Crux Football → entered the space through Montpellier HSC Women What we’re seeing is the MCO model professionalising — shifting from opportunistic acquisitions to regulated, capital-disciplined platforms. 💡 Investor lens: MCOs can deliver operational leverage, shared analytics, and diversified cashflows — but governance, leverage, and UEFA oversight are now the true differentiators. SWOT snapshot: ✅ Strengths — scale, data synergy, cross-market hedging ⚠️ Weaknesses — regulatory exposure, debt structure 🚀 Opportunities — women’s football, emerging markets, PE co-investment 🧩 Threats — tighter UEFA rules, fan pushback, rights-market cooling 📊 The takeaway: Multi-club ownership is becoming an institutional asset class. The winners will be those who balance financial sophistication with sporting credibility — building ecosystems where performance, governance, and enterprise value compound together.

Now we have got sports pundits analyzing stocks. Anyways...... Manchester United have posted their highest ever amount of revenue for last season, despite having their worst campaign on the pitch in 51 years. The club reported record revenue of £666.5 million for fiscal 2025, driven by increases in commercial and match day revenue. The biggest increase (by 10%) was in commercial revenue, as a result of the club's front-of-shirt sponsorship with Snapdragon, the most valuable deal of its kind in world sport, and the launch of its new ecommerce model with SCAYL. Though it still recorded a net loss of £33m for the financial year, it narrowed from £113.2 million the year prior. For a club mired in debt since a controversial 2005 takeover, that’s progress. United's chief executive Omar Berrada said the results, which came despite finishing 15th in the Premier League and failing to qualify for any European competition, reflected United's strength as an institution.

Sports M&A Market Update | September 2025 September saw ~15 Sports M&A rightsholder transactions, highlighted continued momentum in the sports investment landscape. Here are my key takeaways: 💰 Institutional capital continues to flow into the sports industry, with investors announcing formation or completing fundraising – including Buss Sports Capital and Avenue Sports Fund. 🏎️ Motorsport remains a magnet for investor interest across a diverse range of properties in the space, with interest levels rising in MotoGP following Liberty Media’s acquisition. 🏈 The trend of minority investments in sport remains strong – particularly in the NFL, where institutional capital continues to play an expanding role in the sport. ⚽ Women’s football continues to attract investment, with 3 deals completed in September – including Bristol City Women’s acquisition by Mercury 13, forming a new multi-club ownership group in the women’s game. 🏆 The USL is gaining momentum, securing institutional capital from BellTower Partners as it seeks to execute its strategy to rival the MLS with the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in the horizon. Exploring investment opportunities in sports? Let’s connect. Comment "Sports M&A" to receive the full list of deals tracked in September 2025 (please ensure we are connected so I can share it). #SportsBusiness #MandA #PrivateEquity #SportsInvestment #SportsIndustry

Fan ownership models 🗯️ The future of sports ownership may look very different from the past. A recent Axios feature highlights a new deal that allows fans to become partial owners of clubs. By giving supporters equity stakes, teams are not just selling tickets and merchandise they are selling participation in governance and culture. Why this matters : • Fans who own stakes show higher loyalty and lifetime value than those who do not. • In Germany, the “50+1” rule has long demonstrated how supporter involvement creates stable, community-driven clubs. • In the U.S., innovative models in soccer and basketball are attracting both private equity and grassroots investment. This evolution reshapes the relationship between investors, clubs, and communities: sport is no longer just consumed, it is co-created. ✅ A thorough study of these models ensures that our investments generate reliable financial returns while strengthening fan loyalty. 👍 Cheick Sanankoua Jean-Luc Agboyibo Julien Assié Kaly Soro Jéromine Chaumard Gabriella Ayeboua Jon Boafo #SportsInvestment #FanEngagement #ClubOwnership #SportsBusiness #InnovationInSport #FutureOfSports #OmegaSportsHolding

🌍 Private Equity Investments in Football: When the Game Meets the Boardroom ⚽ Football isn’t just a sport anymore — it’s a global business. From billion-euro stadium upgrades to blockbuster TV deals, clubs are modernizing fast to keep fans engaged and profits rising. Behind much of that transformation? Private equity investors. In our latest BlogMont piece, we explore how private equity firms are reshaping the football landscape — turning fan passion into financial opportunity. 🔹 Why clubs need investors: Modern stadiums, digital fan experiences, and global merchandising all cost money. Clubs like Real Madrid and PSG rely on massive investments to stay competitive and deliver unforgettable experiences. 🔹 What investors look for: Before pouring in millions, firms study the club’s fanbase, media reach, innovation potential, and long-term growth. A strong following isn’t just pride — it’s predictable revenue. 🔹 The La Liga × CVC deal: In 2021, CVC Capital Partners invested €2.1 billion in La Liga, securing an 8.2% stake in a new media company managing broadcasting rights for 50 years. The deal gave Spanish clubs the cash to upgrade stadiums, pay off debts, and invest in youth academies — though giants like Real Madrid weren’t convinced they needed the help. 💡 The big picture: Private equity firms, once focused on tech and healthcare, now see football as the next frontier. Clubs get the capital to reinvent themselves — investors get access to one of the world’s most passionate markets. It’s a partnership that turns the world’s favorite game into one of the most dynamic asset classes. 📖 Read the full piece here 👉 https://lnkd.in/d3PefvnP ✍️ Author: Quentin Bottéon #PrivateEquity #FootballBusiness #SportsFinance #Investment #LaLiga #CVC #RealMadrid #PSG #BlackmontConsulting #BlogMont

The CVC deal showed how vital outside capital has become for clubs, but it also sparked deep divisions — especially with figures like Florentino Pérez, who saw it as undervaluing La Liga’s long-term media rights. His push for the European Super League was as much a financial revolution as a sporting one, challenging the old UEFA model of centralised control. Meanwhile, Javier Tebas’s stance reflects the league’s need for financial stability and transparency — particularly after scandals like the Negreira case that exposed the governance flaws at FC Barcelona under Joan Laporta’s presidency. It’s a complex chessboard: Pérez pushing global monetisation, Laporta juggling legacy debts, and Tebas trying to protect La Liga’s institutional credibility. Football’s no longer just about goals — it’s about governance, valuation, and who truly controls the game’s future. ⚽💰

🎯 Official Statement: SIGA Steps Up to Support the NBA and US Sport in Strengthening Integrity and Restoring Trust. 🎯 As the world’s Leading Sport Integrity organization, SIGA calls for proactive leadership, regulatory reform and independent oversight to safeguard the future of Sport In response to the unfolding sports betting scandal and widening integrity crisis impacting the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) and its continental subsidiary SIGA AMERICA reaffirm their commitment to supporting the NBA and broader American sports movement in restoring trust, strengthening governance and protecting the integrity of Sport. Integrity is the cornerstone of Sport’s credibility, global appeal and commercial viability. To confront this escalating integrity crisis, regain people’s trust and safeguard Sport’s reputation, SIGA renews its call for decisive leadership, swift regulatory reform and inclusive, action-oriented collaboration. To restore that trust and secure the future of Sport, we encourage Sports organizations to adopt the SIGA Universal Standards on Sport Integrity (https://lnkd.in/gQzg5nxq) and the SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS). (https://lnkd.in/dp9sHizJ) More at: https://lnkd.in/gKhDmJHq

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke at Leaders in Sport Week in London, where he emphasized the league’s long-term strategy: building a sustainable international fanbase. A reminder that global growth is about more than short-term exposure — it’s about creating lasting connections with fans.