I don't believe any pro team offers regular investment opportunities -- most of those guys like to keep their books pretty tight, that way they can always say they lost money!

I know some of the soccer clubs actually send dividend checks out when players get sold/traded-off. But feels more like a marketing thing than anything else.

For lower level minor league teams I come across opportunities to buy-in every so often. I view these much like other off-market company investments -- if they are soliciting the common folk then either the opportunity isn't great on striking gold, and/or if you do strike gold the deal is structured in such a way that you don't really make that much.

You can try to buy shares in the Green Bay Packers. Don't know of any other major sports teams that aren't individually or family-held.

BATRA
Owns the Atlanta Braves

MSGS
Owns the Knicks and NY Rangers

LOYAL AG said:

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My $.02 would be that societal trends are moving against sports in general and pro sports in particular. Gen Z isn't as in to sports as X and even the millennials are and those two don't care as much as the Boomers do. TV bundle subs are still fading. ESPN appears to be crashing and burning. I've felt for awhile now we're near peak revenue for sports and I don't really see much that convinces me I'm wrong. Not sure this where i would want to put money.

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I feel like peak sports was 7ish years ago.

It was all downhill after Johnny.

In seriousness, I just feel like the money has gotten bigger than the appetites for mainstream sports. The growth is in e-games now. The first network to cover e-games with a non neckbeard commentator has potential to capitalize on a massively growing industry for the next 20 years.

Pro franchises seem to be like wineries. Rich people like to invest in them for fun, not necessarily for the ROI.

it's entirely* ego and cachet driven. there are 2000+ billionaires in the world, but only 32 NFL owners (for example).

* except for mark davis

Dill-Ag13 said:

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LOYAL AG said:

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My $.02 would be that societal trends are moving against sports in general and pro sports in particular. Gen Z isn't as in to sports as X and even the millennials are and those two don't care as much as the Boomers do. TV bundle subs are still fading. ESPN appears to be crashing and burning. I've felt for awhile now we're near peak revenue for sports and I don't really see much that convinces me I'm wrong. Not sure this where i would want to put money.

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I feel like peak sports was 7ish years ago.

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Can't argue there. I watch zero pro sports other than some of the World Series and I find college sports beyond A&M less interesting by the year.

I watch enough sports to offset the rest of you.

jja79 said:

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I watch enough sports to offset the rest of you.

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is that your class year or birth year? If class year you don't really count for this discussion. Gen X and the Boomers care about sports but Millennials and Z care considerably less and that's the real problem for the future of sports. Interest is waning with the younger generations.

There was a pro sports franchise in the last few years where the 2nd place bidder was a pooled investment of folks each with net worth over $50M. I know that isn't regular folks, but it was still a pretty cool oppty even at that wealth level to have the chance to be part of a bid, even if their interest was non-controlling, and no direct voice to mgmt. Don't recall what exactly the benefits were, but they would have special access, events, etc... but it was really just about the cache.

Given that, it is hard to imagine regular folks ever having a chance unless you get to tag along with someone that is influential, unless you are in a start-up league and willing to take the risks that come along with it.

Mark Cuban called me today wanting to sell me a minority share of the Dallas Mavericks.

Evidently he's hurting for cash.

Commonwealth is an app you can buy shares in horses and some golfers. I think they Kentucky derby winner was on there, but I haven't seen any opportunities to invest recently. You can sign up for a waiting list on horses and golfers so far.

Sponsors don't want 66 year olds with money to spend watching?

jja79 said:

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Sponsors don't want 66 year olds with money to spend watching?

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Statistically speaking 66 year olds aren't rolling in disposable income but that's not what this thread is about. We're talking about sports as an investment which means we're talking about their future as financial entities and no 66 year olds don't really count.

We must know different people. The thread is about something that really doesn't exist, investing in pro sports. I was just commenting that there are people who watch a lot of sports.

jja79 said:

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We must know different people. The thread is about something that really doesn't exist, investing in pro sports. I was just commenting that there are people who watch a lot of sports.

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Not sure what you and I are debating at this point. Of course people watch sports. My dad watches the Cowboys and Mavericks religiously. He's 73 so sponsors don't cater to his demographic other than the pill pushers and adult diaper companies. Growth projections don't count people at your age, never mind his. That's my entire point. I'm glad you enjoy watching sports but you aren't their future. As a potential investment (realistic or not) it's the Millennials and Z that should have the sports business concerned because they just aren't as interested. Then factor in that Z is the smallest generation alive and it's a double whammy. This is a real problem for the future of the sports industry.

I do agree sports is in trouble. I have a 20 year old who watches sports religiously. None of his friends watch sports other than an NFL game every now and then. When I mentions sponsors I meant sponsors trying to sell products today. Lots of people my age and your dad's spend money on products that younger people do as well like golf equipment, alcohol, travel, clothes, etc.

As I recall the OP was about sports franchises as an investment which isn't a thing anyway.

Sports has been in trouble for 10 years, but the timeliness for that to really rear its head is probably another 10 years.