Key facts
- Investors are seeking sports assets in the £50m to £100m range due to the scarcity of larger deals.
- Exeter Chiefs rugby club was sold for £45m, marking a significant entry into the sport for Black Knight group.
- The Hundred cricket franchises saw minority stake sales starting at £40m.
- SailGP is selling franchises for $75m to $100m and plans to expand its fleet.
- The new Premier Jumping League sold its first franchise for $50m before its inaugural competition.
Investors are increasingly turning to sports as an asset class, seeking opportunities beyond the multi-billion-pound takeovers of major teams. With high-profile deals for clubs like Chelsea and NFL franchises capturing headlines, the market for more accessible sporting investments is expanding.
In rugby, the Exeter Chiefs were recently sold for £45m to Bill Foley's Black Knight group, which also owns AFC Bournemouth and FC Lorient. This sale marks the end of over 150 years of member ownership for the club. Other English rugby clubs, such as Bath Rugby, have also seen valuations realized through debt-for-equity arrangements.
Newer sporting ventures are also attracting significant investment. Minority stakes in The Hundred cricket franchises have been sold for a minimum of £40m, with some exceeding triple that amount. The SailGP sailing series is currently seeking to add a 14th team at a price of $75m to $100m and plans to expand further. Additionally, the newly formed Premier Jumping League, described as a 'Formula 1 of equestrian sports,' has sold its first franchise for $50m, despite not having held any competitions yet.
These developments, alongside growing interest in lower-tier English football leagues and Super League rugby teams, indicate a broadening market for sports investments. While top-tier clubs remain exclusive, second-tier assets are becoming more accessible, suggesting sustained investor interest in the sports sector.