Does Wrexham's Hollywood Script go all the way to the Premiership?

Buying a soccer team in Europe is an extremely high risk investment. It is not like investing in an American franchise where positive returns are not only achievable, but are more likely than not. The English Premier League is a different story. The league is not structured in the same way as the American sports leagues. For instance, it does not have salary caps; and the worst three teams literally get kicked out of the league each season. There are gains to be made but there is also a huge downside risk. That said, with high risk comes high reward. 

Now professional athletes can invest in their own leagues

Ever dreamed of owning stake in the sports team or league that you play for or work for?  That is beyond the means of most of us.  But what if you could invest in a team as an accredited investor, would you do it?  Now may be your chance.  Over the last ten years or so team valuations, salaries, and athletes’ own brands have grown tremendously, but not everyone has the ability to capitalize on this.  That may be about to change.  Specifically because the professional athletes themselves want to share in this equity upside and are pushing for ways to do that.

Female athlete inks groundbreaking NIL Deal

Livvy Dunne, a 21-year old gymnast from New Jersey, is now by far the highest paid female collegiate athlete in the US.  She just signed a deal with Passes (www.passes.com), a small internet publishing company based in Miami and LA.  This content creation company offers a platform that allows for creators to engage with their audiences via subscription, paid DMs, 1-1 calls, and livestream, etc. As recently as one month ago the company raised $40 million in a Series A funding round, enabling them to go after athletes like Dunne with multi-million-dollar deals.  

Squash's Olympic trials and tribulations are not over

The sport of squash is 200 years old and has had - at its peak - around 25 million regular participants hailing from almost every country on earth. Squash boasts a thriving international presence, with the PSA professional circuit drawing top talent from across the globe. From the powerhouse nations of Egypt, England, and France to rising stars in Peru, Colombia, and the US, the sport's competitive landscape is incredibly diverse and exciting. This global reach makes squash a perfect fit for the Olympics, where athletes from all corners of the world come together to celebrate excellence and sportsmanship.

College Linebacker uses NIL funds to invest in the Formula 1 of sailing

The landscape of professional sports is constantly evolving, and with it comes new opportunities for athletes to invest in their future. One such opportunity is the Avenue Sports Fund, a recently launched investment vehicle that aims to provide athletes with access to a diverse portfolio of sports-related assets. Founded by Marc Lasry, the chairman and CEO of Avenue Capital Group, the Avenue Sports Fund is targeting athletes who are looking to diversify their portfolios and take a more active role in the future of sports. The fund's investment strategy focuses on three key areas:

Landmark NIL decision has changed the game for college athletes

In 2022, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) made a landmark decision that has fundamentally changed the landscape of college sports. The NIL rule change, which allows student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), has ushered in a new era of opportunities and challenges for athletes, universities, and companies alike.  

How a US billionaire's investment will grow the sport of squash worldwide

This summer (2023) it was announced that billionaire investor Mark Walter has made a major investment in the sport of squash (likely over $10 million). Walter, who is the co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chelsea Football Club, has acquired a stake in Squash Media & Marketing (SMM), a commercial entity created and managed by the Professional Squash Association (PSA). The investment is part of a larger strategy to grow the sport of squash globally. 

Another global sport that Ryan Reynolds invests in

In November 2020, Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney made headlines when they announced that they had purchased Wrexham AFC, a semi-professional football club in North Wales. The duo, who are known for their work on films and television shows such as Deadpool, Free Guy, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, had no prior experience in football management, but they were determined to turn Wrexham into a success. 

Ryan Reynolds invests in Formula One

 

Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Michael B. Jordan are the latest celebrities to invest in Formula One, joining Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners in a 24% equity stake in Alpine Racing. The deal struck this summer (2023) is reportedly worth €200 million, which values Alpine Racing at approximately £706 million.