Highlight Reel: Private equity firm to invest £125m in women's tennis 🎾
Highlight Reel: Private equity firm to invest £125m in women's tennis 🎾
This week's top stories feature DFL, CVC, WTA, FIFA23, NWSL, Barstool Sports, Club America and the Mexican Stock Exchange
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Happy Friday!
Welcome to another edition of the Highlight Reel, a break-down of five of the most interesting stories that have happened across the sport & entertainment industry. This week includes 👇
DFL moves to tighten 50+1 ownership rule for Bundesliga clubs ⚽️
Private equity firm to invest £125m in women's tennis 🎾
All 12 National Women’s Soccer League teams set to be added to FIFA23 🎮
Barstool Sports unveil new drinks brand, Pirate Water 🏴☠️
Club America to be listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange 🇲🇽
Thanks to Alexandra, Paul, Dan, Lucas, Alex, and Nick for all liking Tuesday’s newsletter on multi-purpose stadia.
DFL moves to tighten 50+1 ownership rule for Bundesliga clubs ⚽️
The Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL), which operates the German football league system, has voted to tighten rules surrounding its 50+1 ownership rule, which ensures that clubs remain majority-owned by their members.
The decision comes after increasing pressure to allow external investment into clubs to boost competitiveness.
Some clubs have used legal loopholes to bring in external investors, including RB Leipzig, who are owned by Red Bull, and Bayer Leverkusen, which is owned by Bayer AG. However, generally speaking this ruling limits investor influence and means that clubs will remain owned by their members rather than shareholders.
Private equity firm to invest £125m in women's tennis 🎾
The WTA Tour has entered into a strategic partnership with private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, which will invest $150m (£125m) in women's tennis and take a 20% stake in a new entity, WTA Ventures.
The WTA will retain full regulatory and sporting responsibility while hoping the new partnership will increase the profile of women's tennis, commercial growth and the size of broadcast deals.
Investment in women's tennis is much needed, with prize money lagging behind the men's ATP Tour, and the WTA's finances have also been affected by CEO Steve Simon's decision to suspend all tournaments in China and Hong Kong.
All 12 National Women’s Soccer League teams set to be added to FIFA23 🎮
Electronic Arts has announced that all 12 teams of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) will be available in FIFA 23 starting from next week (March 15), thanks to a new licensing partnership with the league and NWSL Players Association.
The NWSL's addition will provide an "authentic" match broadcast experience for NWSL teams in FIFA 23's Kick-Off game modes.
It becomes the only the third women’s league to be added to the game title, which launched in September with all 24 teams from the FA Women’s Super League (WSL) and D1 Arkema in UK and France, respectively.
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Barstool Sports unveil new drinks brand, Pirate Water 🏴☠️
Barstool Sports and Phusion Projects have launched a new ready-to-drink malt beverage brand called Pirate Water. The 4.5% ABV drink aims to target young adults and college students with its pirate-themed packaging and marketing.
Barstool has a proven track record of successfully launching co-branded beverages, such as Spittin’ Chiclets’ #1 flavoured vodka in North America, Pink Whitney, and Big Deal Brewing, its new super-premium golden ale. More recently, Barstool launched Stella Blue Coffee, a new coffee brand inspired by Dan “Big Cat” Katz, host of the #1 sports podcast in the U.S., Pardon My Take.
Club America to be listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange 🇲🇽
Mexican soccer club, Club América, is set to become the first team in LigaMX to be listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV), following in the footsteps of Manchester United, Juventus and Ajax.
This move is part of a wider plan to bring more transparency and corporate governance to the team. The listing will enable Club América to raise funds for investments and expansions, while also providing greater transparency and accountability to its fans and investors.
Interestingly, the club’s Azteca Stadium, which is set to host matches at the 2026 World Cup, will also go through the same process, though will trade independently.
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