LeBron, McIlroy, Ronaldo in $575m Whoop raise at $10bn valuation March 31, 2026 LeBron James, Rory McIlroy and Cristiano Ronaldo are among a group of athletes part of a $575m raise that values wearable technology firm Whoop at $10.1bn. The Series G funding round, raising over $500m, is led by the likes of the Audi Formula 1 investors Qatar Investment Authority and Saudi Aramco Oil Pipelines stakeholders the [...]
Manuel Neuer: Bayern goalkeeper to teach European sport’s next leaders March 9, 2026 Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is swapping the penalty box for the lecture theatre in a bid to halt the Americanisation of European sport. The man credited with inventing the sweeper-keeper role has co-founded the Center for Sports Business Tegernsee, whose stated aim is to strengthen governance and finances in Europe. Neuer’s role will involve [...]
Premier League + ‘could hurt fan acquisition if rolled out globally’ March 5, 2026 The Premier League is “smart” to be experimenting with showing games on its own dedicated app but may find it harder to attract new fans if it leaves broadcasters and streaming platforms altogether, says a leading figure at Dazn. Premier League + will launch in Singapore next season and show all 380 matches live as [...]
Seattle Seahawks: Why are NFL franchises selling for $10bn? February 20, 2026 Just days after winning their first Super Bowl in over a decade the owners of the Seattle Seahawks – the Allen family – put the NFL franchise up for sale. Paul Allen was a co-founder of Microsoft, and “The Estate of Paul G. Allen” has now begun a formal sale process of the franchise due [...]
Why influencers could blow traditional broadcasters out of the water February 13, 2026 The tidal wave of influencers continues to come in-land, and they could be the key to unlocking fan bases that broadcasters cannot. Staying awake past midnight and into Monday morning for a four-hour American football game, knowing the alarm will ring in a few hours, used to be a niche obsession in Britain. Now it [...]
Why KKR-Arctos is not just about private equity getting bigger February 12, 2026 The announcement that US giant KKR has acquired Arctos Partners for a reported $1.4bn (£1bn) is a significant moment in both the sports investment and private equity worlds. At first glance, the deal looks like a straightforward bet by KKR on the growing institutional appetite for sports assets. However, look closer and it says something [...]
Private equity made to wait for Super Bowl win as Seahawks triumph February 9, 2026 Private equity was forced to wait for its first NFL Super Bowl win after the Seattle Seahawks beat the Sixth Street-backed New England Patriots on Sunday. The fund, based out of Super Bowl host city San Francisco, acquired a minority stake in the Patriots last November after the NFL opened up its league to a [...]
NFL chiefs back Bad Bunny Super Bowl LX show amid Trump protest fears February 3, 2026 NFL chiefs have defended choosing Bad Bunny to headline the Super Bowl LX half-time show amid fears he will ignite a row over President Trump’s immigration crackdown. The Puerto Rican declared “ICE out” at the Grammy Awards on Sunday in protest at federal agents’ hardline approach, including the fatal shooting of two people in Minneapolis [...]
Why authenticity is key to US sport succeeding in Europe January 24, 2026 The NBA London 2026 game is not another overseas exhibition. It is the clearest signal yet that US sports leagues are no longer treating Europe as a touring destination, but as a long-term growth market with serious commercial intent. And that shift matters. The window to engage early with the next generation of global sports [...]
Football regulator may have popular support but many will be disappointed January 22, 2026 The Independent Football Regulator will not be the panacea for all of the English game’s ills that some are hoping for, says Ed Warner. To a stimulating conference titled “The Independent Football Regulator: challenge or opportunity?” There I found myself a minority voice in an echo chamber of regulatory advocates. An opening poll of the [...]