
2026-01-01
Happy New Year! We want to express our deepest gratitude for your time, curiosity, and support throughout 2025. To kick off 2026, we’ve curated your 10 most-read stories from the last months.
Your
Daily Playbook Team
The sector grows from $106.4 billion in 2024 at a 7.8% compound annual rate.
Augmented and virtual reality technologies revolutionize campaigns by drastically increasing fan immersion.
New capital flows into women’s sports, esports, and collegiate athlete partnerships.
The $246B firm targets private equity deals across teams, leagues, and intellectual property.
Abu Dhabi manager Lunate anchored the strategy to support business scaling and growth.
Golfer Rory McIlroy serves as an Operating Partner to help source new investments.
The vehicle targets minority stakes in European assets valued between €50M and €500M.
Previous firm backers include 100+ athletes like Formula 1 champion Lando Norris.
Global private equity sports deals reached $6B through Q3 2025, an eight-year high.
Arizona's Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) originally bought 90% for ~£30M in 2021.
Portman Holdings LLC is the new majority shareholder; Bright Path Sports Partners retains ~40%.
The sale includes promotion-based bonus payments, potentially increasing the pension fund's final return.
Representatives told investors the entity cannot allocate new funds for the foreseeable future.
Expensive domestic projects left the portfolio with 'only' $60 billion in available liquidity.
Managers told partners new capital now requires funneling double the amount back into Saudi companies.
The combined investment from franchise owners and the firm will be deployed over a seven-year commitment.
The firm assumes full day-to-day management of the Liga de Fútbol Americano, which was launched in 2016.
Franchise backers include NBA All-Star Blake Griffin and NFL stars Ryan Kalil and Christian McCaffrey.
20% of 111 billionaire families surveyed now own controlling stakes, up from 6%.
One-third invested in sports, making it the top specialty asset class ahead of art.
Recent deals include a $10.3B valuation for the NFL's New York Giants.
Franchise fees are projected to be between $500M and $1B each, with some deals already in advanced talks.
The league will launch with 10-to-12 teams in countries like France, Germany, and Spain.
A proposed Year One preseason tournament would pit European clubs against NBA rosters.
Managers Arctos and Eldridge Industries target holdings across five leagues including the NFL and NBA.
The 0.95% fee vehicle provides exposure to over 30 sports franchises and media assets.
CAIS targets a $500B+ market with historical franchise returns averaging 13% annually.
The school generated a record $332 million in revenue, boosted by $137 million in donations.
Former leader Ohio State fell to second place as revenue dropped 9% to $255 million.
The top 75 athletic programs hold a combined value of $51.22 billion, up 13% annually.
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.
