FINANCE & LAW PORTAL
Matchroom fighting for £1bn valuation as investors circle
Matchroom's Eddie Hearn talks exclusively to SportBusiness about private equity interest, the death of PPV boxing and the rise of influencers.
World Rowing navigating choppy waters in bid to diversify revenues
How partnerships on and off the water are helping World Rowing to democratise the sport, attract new audiences and lessen the governing body’s reliance on Olympic revenues.
Sport does not know the origin of its private equity money, SportBusiness report suggests
Sports rights-holders often have little to no idea about the origin of the money they are accepting from private equity funds, a new 90-page SportBusiness report has found.
NWSL franchise interest intensifies with $58m Reign sale
Seattle Reign has become the second National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) franchise to be sold in a week, as the ownership overhaul in the top United States division continues apace.
Fifa 2023 revenues buoyed by WWC, sponsorship makes up 39 per cent
World governing body FIFA enjoyed income of $1.17bn (€1.07bn) in 2023, boosted by strong commercial revenues from the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
AFA threatens ESPN with legal action for streaming-only coverage of Supercopa
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is weighing legal action against domestic broadcast partner ESPN for what it claims is a contractual breach relating to coverage of yesterday's (Thursday's) Supercopa.
RMC Sport parent Altice Media to be sold to CMA CGM in €1.55bn deal
Altice France has today (Friday) announced plans to sell Altice Media, parent of subscription broadcaster RMC Sport, to logistics company CMA CGM Group in a move that seemingly marks the final step in the telco’s move away from premium sports output in the country.
Sports Matters Academy | Legal Matters
Two leading professionals explain the work of sports lawyers, in the penultimate session from educational content series Sports Matters Academy
Webinar | Athlete entrepreneurship: Forging new opportunities off the field while still on it
In a replay of an April 14 webinar, we explore the implications of fast-increasing activity by professional athletes in outside business ventures while still actively competing in their respective sports.
Japan Rugby League One takes club game into new era with ‘hybrid’ commercial model
Hajime Shoji, the COO of Japan's domestic rugby union league, explains how the competition has been extensively remodelled to capitalise on a surge of interest in rugby in Japan following the country's hosting of the 2019 World Cup.
Singtel ‘exploring all options’ on Optus but rules out full sale
Singaporean telco Singtel is considering disposing of a significant stake in its Australian business Optus to a Canadian private equity firm, but plans for a full sale have been vehemently denied by the firm.
San Diego Wave sold in record $120m deal for NWSL
The San Diego Wave of the National Women's Soccer League is being sold for a league-record price of $120m (€110m) on the eve of the team's third season, a source with knowledge of the deal confirmed t…
Barcelona hit by resignation of key finance exec Romeu
Spanish LaLiga club FC Barcelona has been hit by the surprise resignation of Eduard Romeu, the vice-president in charge of financial affairs and a key figure in attempts to rebalance the club’s finances.
Reliance tightens grip on Viacom18 after buying out Paramount stake
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, chaired and run by business mogul Mukesh Ambani, will buy out Paramount Global’s 13-per-cent stake in media group Viacom18 for $517m (€472m).
Two Circles develops US business with move for digital content agency
US-based digital content agency Let It Fly Media has become the first Two Circles acquisition under the ownership of private equity firm Charterhouse Capital Partners
Matchroom reaffirms investment appeal with £34m profit
Matchroom Sport delivered a profit of £33.8m during the 2022-23 financial reporting period on the back of strong performances from its darts and boxing verticals, SportBusiness has learned.
Sevilla announces 10-year refinancing venture
Sevilla has announced a 10-year refinancing agreement worth €108m ($118m) in a move the LaLiga club hopes will provide long-term stability and allow it to undertake its strategic plan with “full effectiveness”.
SportBusiness at Sportel Rendez-Vous Miami: Private equity investing in sport
SportBusiness invites you to a Masterclass at Sportel Rendez-Vous Miami on Tuesday, May 9, at 9.50am local time
Malaysian Football League hits reset, aims for return to ‘glory days’
Recent changes in Malaysian club football include league restructure and major new commercial deals
Len Perna on shaping the next wave of sports industry leadership
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Len Perna, chairman and chief executive of TurnkeyZRG. Fisher and Russo also discuss the National Football League’s handling of governance matters surrounding the life-threatening, on-field injury of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, ownership changes within Candy Digital, Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic signing with Saudi Arabian football club Al Nassr, Vince McMahon’s return to operational control of World Wrestling Entertainment, and John Henry’s leadership of Fenway Sports Group.
World Cup piracy ‘explodes’ in some Asian markets, subsides in others
Two major East Asian markets report rampant piracy of Fifa World Cup matches in December, while piracy challenges subside in some other markets.