2025-11-11
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Finance & Investments
The €2.2B ($2.55B) valuation is the second-highest ever for a soccer team control sale.
Apollo is acquiring a ~55% stake with the transaction expected to close in Q1 2026.
The acquisition is made through Apollo's new $5B sports investment vehicle, Apollo Sports Capital.
The new club will be owned by Arthur Blank’s AMB Sports + Entertainment and will debut in 2028.
The fee surpasses the previous record of $110M set by a Denver expansion team this year.
This comes as NWSL regular season TV viewership increased 22% year-over-year in 2025.
The firm will continue investing from its $181M second fund through mid-2027.
Its entire portfolio of 30 companies and all investment staff will move over.
Backers include City Football Group, adidas, AEG, and Madison Square Garden.
Italy's Ministry of Sport has committed US$100M to supporting the event until 2030.
The prize fund has increased 50% from under US$10M since its move from London.
Discussions are ongoing for a commercial merger with the WTA, operational by early 2027.
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Media, Broadcasting & Sponsorships
The operation generated nearly £7.6M in ad revenue, with £450K in assets seized.
Two men were arrested on Aug 24, 2025, after an Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment investigation.
The dismantled site was a copycat; officials expect more to appear due to strong brand recognition.
The new media rights package provides a 40% increase in fees through 2031.
Amazon's races averaged 2.16M viewers, with the 18-34 demographic growing 55%.
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Teams & Leagues
The 1,024 suspended players include 27 from the top-tier Super Lig.
Matches in the second and third-tier leagues are suspended for two weeks.
The probe previously suspended 149 referees and assistants for betting.
Kelly rejected settlement offers of $25M and $30M, demanding the full amount.
His contract contains offset language, potentially reducing the cost if he gets another job.
The buyout is second only to Jimbo Fisher’s record $77M from Texas A&M.
The city is seeking a court order to prevent the move, arguing it violates a lease running through 2044.
Pasadena claims a departure would jeopardize its ability to pay off nearly $184M in stadium bond debt.
UCLA is exploring the move to generate more revenue amid a $51.8M athletic department deficit.
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Miscellaneous
The record came from a runner-up finish at the WTA Finals worth nearly $2.7M.
This 2025 total surpasses Serena Williams' previous record of $12.4M set in 2013.
Her career earnings now stand at $45.2M, ranking her No. 2 on the all-time list.
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