2026-01-27
💸
Finance & Investments
The 36 clubs in the top two divisions generated €6.33B, a 7.9% increase from the previous season.
28 clubs reported a profit, up from 17 last year, signaling a full recovery from pandemic losses.
Teams invested a record €326.5M into youth and women’s football, while media rights remained the top revenue source.
Chinese firm Anta paid 62% above the market share price to become the German brand's largest shareholder.
The sellers, who own luxury giant Kering, sold the shares to focus purely on high-end fashion.
Anta aims to use this deal to reverse Puma’s recent drop in sales and global popularity.
Private equity giant CVC is purchasing the US-based equestrian league through its specialized sports division.
The target company operates over 40 competitions and manages 800 events involving roping and showjumping.
This adds to a $14B portfolio that already includes huge tennis, rugby, and soccer organizations.
US investment firm Apollo Sports Capital paid £47.8M for a minority stake in the soccer club.
The funds will support long-term projects like a stadium expansion instead of buying new players immediately.
Celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney retain control while adding a wealthy strategic partner.
The former soccer star is the public face of a reported €400M bid backed by US investors.
A three-month exclusivity period allows the bidders to audit the club's finances before finalizing the deal.
The club faces significant financial struggles, including recent losses of €81.8M and debt estimated around €180M.
📺
Media, Broadcasting & Sponsorships
The event averaged nearly 5M views, becoming the streaming service’s largest exclusive live broadcast.
It reached more homes than any live UFC event across all platforms in nearly a decade.
UK broadcaster ITV paid over £90M to air the new global tournament in 2026 and 2028.
The agreement keeps major matches for UK teams on free television instead of moving to paid services.
This deal cements ITV as the primary home for rugby alongside its Six Nations and World Cup coverage.
🏆
Teams & Leagues
The new format features clubs representing L.A., N.Y., São Paulo, and Tokyo instead of home nations.
General managers were appointed for each city to handle athlete selection and local sponsorships.
Competition begins this June in Sacramento following a March draft to select roster athletes.
MLS joins the NHL as the only major sports leagues backing these controversial betting platforms.
The agreement allows the soccer league to block specific high-risk bets to prevent match-fixing.
Polymarket gains exclusive marketing rights to engage fans through digital content and stadium signage.
Investment firm Otro Capital is exploring a sale of its 24% stake in the racing team.
The potential deal targets a sports franchise recently valued at over $2B by Forbes.
Horner, a championship-winning manager, aims to return to the sport after his controversial exit from Red Bull.
🎁
Miscellaneous
The league will allow the controversial media personality to purchase a ticket for the upcoming championship game.
This decision pauses a decade-long feud that previously resulted in Portnoy getting arrested at the 2019 event.
The truce follows a recent partnership between Barstool and FOX Sports, integrating the brand into mainstream broadcasting.
If you have any comments or feedback, just respond to this email!
Was this email forwarded to you? Then sign up here to receive the Daily Playbook in your inbox every weekday.