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Marcelo Claure, a renowned entrepreneur and billionaire investor, has made a significant move back into Major League Soccer (MLS) by acquiring a 10% stake in New York City FC (NYCFC). This follows his departure from Inter Miami CF in 2021. Claure’s investment is part of a broader deal that values City Football Group US Holdco LLC, the parent company of both NYCFC and the club’s future stadium, at approximately $1.5 billion. With Claure’s entry, City Football Group (CFG) maintains its 80% majority stake in NYCFC, while Yankee Global Enterprises reduces its share from 20% to 10% to accommodate Claure. He has also been named Co-Vice Chairman of NYCFC, further strengthening his ties with CFG, an organisation with which he has previously collaborated on several ventures. As part of this investment, Claure secures a share in NYCFC's much-anticipated new stadium in Willets Point, Queens, scheduled to open in 2027. This state-of-the-art, 25,000-seat venue will be New York City’s first fully electric sports stadium and is expected to transform the financial landscape for the club, providing a long-term asset that could elevate its profile both locally and internationally. Claure is a highly respected figure across multiple industries, known for his ability to transform and scale businesses. He is the founder of Claure Group, an investment firm focusing on AI, technology, climate, energy transition, and entertainment. In the world of football, Claure's involvement runs deep. He co-founded Inter Miami CF with David Beckham and owns Bolivia's Club Bolívar, a CFG partner club. Additionally, Claure holds a stake in Girona FC, another club within the CFG network. His breadth of experience in football demonstrates his unwavering commitment to growing the sport, particularly in the U.S. market. Claure’s return to MLS comes at a pivotal moment for soccer in the United States. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the Club World Cup 2025 on the horizon, interest in the sport is reaching unprecedented levels. Claure expressed his excitement about collaborating with CFG and the Yankees, emphasizing the enormous potential for MLS and the opportunities for engaging New York City’s diverse communities. Claure's involvement has been widely celebrated. MLS Commissioner Don Garber welcomed his return to the MLS Board of Governors, acknowledging the value Claure brings as NYCFC prepares for its next chapter, including the opening of its new stadium post-2026. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of CFG and NYCFC, praised Claure's passion for the game and alignment with the group's broader vision of expanding soccer in the United States. This strategic partnership not only reinforces NYCFC’s ambitions but also signifies a broader trend of high-profile investments in U.S. soccer, as the sport continues to gain momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup. https://lnkd.in/e8MS_XXF #NYCFC #FootballFinance

Often, valuation is a key component of capital allocation decisions. 2023 was an inflection point for investment in women’s professional sports and I doubt the momentum shifts any time soon. Recent activity from 4Q23: 🏀 WNBA: Owners of the Golden State Warriors agreed to pay a record $50 million for an expansion team ⚽️ NWSL: Reported that the Seattle Sounders FC and The Carlyle Group were in negotiations to acquire the OL Reign for ~$50 million In the new year, those same leagues are setting new records (NWSL’s Portland Thorns FC acquisition ~$63 million) and indicating growing interest in ownership groups for investment in expansion team’s in several new cities (WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert). Clearly an undervalued sector of a sports industry that continues to evolve and grow — investors are paying attention. #womenssports #sportsindustry #linkedinsports #WilmingtonTrust #SportsAdvisors

“From an A-League perspective, professional, semi-professional, of which we have a vast amount of content for, it's not entirely suitable [Suncorp Stadium], and the right size for football is probably more around the 15,000 mark. We need that to help the professional and semi-professional game flourish.” ⚽ FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci discusses the suitability of existing infrastructure for football in Queensland and outlines the importance of investing in purpose-built facilities to support all levels of the game in Part 7 of the #EQUALISER series with Simon Hill. As the #EQUALISER campaign highlights the vital need for greater investment in football, discover how FQ is working to meet football's growing demands in the 2024 - 2026 Infrastructure Strategy. Read the Infrastructure Strategy 👉 bit.ly/3AHlMnl #FootballinQueenslandUnited

Six Glazer siblings to make up to £150m each from Man United sale. Another windfall from the Premier League club for the family, who have already shared about £700million since their takeover of the club in 2005 _ _ _ _ _ _ | #digital | #linkedinsports | #sportsbusiness | | #investment | #privateequity | #marketing | #branding | #strategy | #sportsmarketing | #sportsbiz | #sportsbusiness | #sportsmedia | #sportsbroadcasting | #sportsindustry | #sponsorship | #digitalmarketing | #brand| #influencermarketing | #advertising | #socialmedia | #marketingandadvertising | #brands | #sports | #pr | #sales | #basketball |#deloitte | #football

🌟 Introducing our fifth report from our Private Equity team about Investments in European Football 🌟 ⚽In recent years, European football has experienced a surge in investments, not only through majority takeovers but also via minority stakes. This trend, driven by private equity firms and individual investors, adds a new dimension to the sport's business dynamics. 💼 The motivations behind these investments are diverse, ranging from financial gain to strategic interests. Our report dives into the primary drivers that lead private equity firms and individual investors to pursue minority investments in European football clubs. 🔍 We'll explore how these motivations align with, or diverge from, the goals of the clubs themselves. Understanding this synergy or potential conflicts sheds light on the impact these investments may have on the football industry. Thank you to our analysts: Sebastián Arriola, Alex Benoit, Ines Ugarte and Lucas Vega, and their supervisor Thais Gonzales Dourojeanni!

As rules around private equity ownership of sports leagues expand, Michael Cembalest, Chairman of Market and Investment Strategy for J.P. Morgan, explores investing in professional sports leagues and related businesses. Read more in this special edition of Eye on the Market:

Wrexham AFC owners and hollywood actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have purchased a minority stake in Mexican top-flight side Club Necaxa. McElhenney and Reynolds will join other high-profile minority investors such as Eva Longoria, Odell Beckham Jr., Mesut Özil and more. It is common knowledge that since the Wrexham takeover in 2020, the hollywood actors have managed to do the unthinkable in North Wales. By earning back to back promotions getting the side to League One for the first time since 2005 and bringing global interest to the city, they know how to change the trajectory of a sports club very quickly. The roles for the McElhenney and Reynolds at Club Necaxa are currently unclear at the moment but with how well they’ve done at Wrexham, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the current owners of the Mexican side look to use their profile, influence and contacts to revamp the brand of the club. Club Necaxa are currently 50 per cent owner by an investment group led by Al Tylis and Sam Porter. There were other investors which joined the group later on, an investment round in 2022 gave the club a reported value upwards of $200m. #wrexham #ryanreynolds #robmcelhenney #clubnecaxa #investment #business

The O’s are here to stay! After months of deliberation with the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Baltimore Orioles will play at Camden Yards for the next three decades. The decision unlocks $600 million in state funds for stadium improvements and expansion, marking a continued effort to reinvigorate the Downtown area. Learn more about what this means for Baltimore (sign-up required): https://lnkd.in/eiYgp3be #multifamilyproperties #multifamilyrealestate #multifamilyhousing #marylandrealestate #multifamilyinvesting  #investmentrealestate #investmentsales 

As rules around private equity ownership of sports leagues expand, Michael Cembalest, Chairman of Market and Investment Strategy for J.P. Morgan, explores investing in professional sports leagues and related businesses. Read more in this special edition of Eye on the Market: https://bit.ly/3VRxC6i

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗕𝗤 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 📑 BQ has officially released the 2023 Annual Report, detailing record-breaking growth, milestones, strategic partnerships and our vision for the future of basketball in Queensland. 🗞️ bit.ly/BQAnnualReports