Key facts
- RedBird Capital Partners is set to enter Japan with backing from the Development Bank of Japan, Nikkei reported.
- The bank will invest in a RedBird-managed fund and act as an intermediary, according to the report.
- RedBird plans to use intellectual property and data expertise from operating teams including AC Milan.
- The size of the investment and the timing of the fund's launch were not disclosed.
RedBird Capital Partners, a US investment firm focused on sports and media, is set to enter the Japanese market with backing from the Development Bank of Japan, Nikkei reported on November 7, 2026. The bank will invest in a fund managed by RedBird and act as an intermediary, according to the report.
The firm plans to draw on intellectual property and data expertise gained from operating sports teams, including Italian soccer club AC Milan, to raise the earning power of Japan's sports industry. RedBird was founded by Gerry Cardinale.
The size of the Development Bank of Japan investment and the timing of the fund's launch were not disclosed. The report did not name any Japanese team, league or venue RedBird would work with.