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Private Equity

Major league investors: Private equity’s pro sports ties

PE has emerged as a major financier of major league sports. We mapped every connection between buyout firms and pro sports teams.

By Jordan Rubio & James Thorne

Published

Updated Feb. 25, 2025 to include new valuations for MLS and NHL teams as well as a new MLS franchise.

Private equity sports investment is on the rise. As leagues have eased ownership rules, dealmakers spy opportunities to gain outsized returns and cultural influence.

It’s no wonder why: US sports teams’ valuations have grown faster than the S&P 500 in recent decades, prompting firms like Arctos Sports Partners and Redbird Capital Partners to amass portfolios of minority stakes in teams.

This dashboard tracks every connection between North American men’s pro sports teams and PE firms and partners. It now includes the NFL following the league’s vote to allow PE investment. Did we miss something? Send feedback.

Jessica Hamlin, Jacob Robbins and Emily Burleson contributed to the reporting for this piece.

Featured image by Mara Potter/PitchBook News

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About Jordan Rubio

Jordan Rubio is a Seattle-based data visualizations editor at PitchBook. He previously worked at the Houston Chronicle as a data journalist and at the Victoria Advocate as a digital editor. A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Rubio graduated from TCU.
About James Thorne

James Thorne is a Seattle-based senior managing editor overseeing PitchBook’s global news team. He previously reported for GeekWire, Reuters, CNBC and Source Media. A native of Colorado, James graduated from Boston College and received his master’s degree in business journalism from New York University.