Good morning. It’s Thursday. Today we’re looking at the European’s Football financial power play, Matheu Flamini’s $21B biotech company, and the US Golf’s hot streak that continues to ascend.

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European Football’s Financial Power Play

From $21.3 billion in 2013 to a projected $39.1 billion in 2025, the European football economy isn’t just growing—it’s accelerating. With broadcasting deals breaking records, private equity flowing in, and clubs expanding into new global markets, the sport has become one of the most commercially advanced and financially complex ecosystems in the world.

But behind the headline numbers lies a deeper story:

• 📈 The Premier League's dominance is reshaping competitive balance across Europe
  

• 💰 Transfer fees hit €12.2 billion—but is it sustainable?
  

• 📊 Bundesliga remains fiscally disciplined, while Serie A and Ligue 1 battle mounting losses
  
  

• 🌍 Clubs are targeting North America, Asia, and the Middle East to unlock new revenue
  

• 🤝 M&A, private equity, and digital monetization are redefining football’s business model
  

Whether you're eyeing media rights, equity stakes, or infrastructure investments, this is your moment to understand where the market is headed—and who stands to win.

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Dodgers, Yankees, and Celtics Lead the U.S. Sponsorship Game

In the high-stakes world of sports sponsorships, media value is the metric to watch, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are leading the pack. Backed by Guggenheim Partners, their sponsorship media value reached $46.7M in 2024, edging out Starr Insurance’s $46.1M deal with the Yankees and TD Bank’s $44.4M stake in the Boston Celtics.

Why it matters: This chart isn’t just about branding—it’s about who’s getting the best ROI on visibility. From American Airlines with the Mavericks to Crypto.com’s splash with the Lakers, sponsorship is now a game of maximum exposure per dollar.

Expect these values to climb further as AI-powered valuation tools and streaming reach give sponsors sharper insights—and bigger bargaining power.

Bottom line: If you're a brand, this is the leaderboard you want to climb. If you're a team, sponsorship is now your second scoreboard.

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Private Equity Is Courtside in the NBA

The NBA’s skyrocketing franchise values—now averaging $4 billion per team—have made ownership an exclusive club. With only a handful of billionaires able (or willing) to buy teams outright, private equity has stepped in as a key player.

🔹 NBA’s PE Playbook: Funds like Blue Owl, Arctos Partners, and Sixth Street can own minority stakes (up to 20% per team, 30% league-wide), but no control rights.

🔹 Teams Already in the Game: The Kings, Warriors, 76ers, Spurs, and Hawks all have PE investors, with Blue Owl flipping its Suns stake for a 158% profit.

🔹 More Investors Coming: The NBA now allows pension funds and endowments to invest—tapping into a $188T institutional capital pool.

With more capital chasing limited assets, expect minority stakes to keep trading hands at record valuations.

Mathieu Flamini: From Midfield Engine to Green Energy Mogul

Some athletes retire with a memoir. Mathieu Flamini retired with a biotech firm reportedly worth £21 billion.

The former Arsenal and AC Milan star has become one of the most successful athlete-turned-entrepreneurs of his generation, thanks to GF Biochemicals, the company he co-founded to mass-produce levulinic acid, a sustainable fuel alternative made from plant waste. With a 60% stake, Flamini’s estimated net worth now hovers around £10 billion.

Why it matters: Flamini’s pivot isn’t just about wealth. It’s about influence. With rumors swirling of a possible club ownership play (think Arsenal or Marseille), he’s shaping up to be a serious player in the sports-business ecosystem.

From elite footballer to clean tech CEO, Flamini’s journey proves that the competitive edge doesn’t dull post-retirement, it just gets redirected.

Ohio State Tops the NCAA Revenue Rankings

College football may be amateur in name, but the balance sheets say otherwise. Ohio State pulled in $251.6M in total athletic revenue, topping the NCAA list ahead of Texas ($239.3M) and Alabama ($214.4M).

Why it matters: The top 10 schools—all from power conferences, raked in over $2 billion combined, underscoring why media rights, NIL deals, and realignment are reshaping the landscape. With football driving the bulk of revenue, these programs function more like mini sports empires than extracurricular departments.

The big picture: In a world of player compensation debates and shifting conference lines, schools with top-tier revenue streams will have the leverage, and survival edge.

Spain, Italy & Argentina Dominate as Padel Goes Mainstream

Do you think pickleball’s rise is impressive? Meet padel: 60,000 courts globally, a 240% growth explosion in Europe, and 30 million players worldwide. Spain leads the charge with 16,000 courts, while Argentina holds its own at 7,000, keeping South America in the game. Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands are also sprinting to build more courts.

But here’s where it gets interesting: clubs are growing even faster than courts, with a 48% increase in just two years. The demand is obvious, and real estate investors, developers, and sponsors are taking notes. With the sport’s explosive trajectory, the only question is: who capitalizes next?

Golf’s Hot Streak Continues

Golf isn’t just back—it’s bigger than ever. 45 million Americans played in 2023, up 31.58% from 2019, and the boom is reshaping retail.

🔹 Golf Shoes Are Big Business – Footwear sales hit $407.8M in 2023, a 48% jump from pre-pandemic levels, with brands like Adidas, FootJoy, and Callaway leading the way.
🔹 Off-Course Golf Is Soaring – Driving ranges and entertainment venues like TopGolf are fueling growth, with off-course participation up 18.8% last year.
🔹 Retailers Are Doubling Down – Dick’s Sporting Goods is expanding its Golf Galaxy stores, seeing golf as a long-term growth bet.

With Tiger Woods launching Sun Day Red and sneaker brands tapping into Gen Z’s rising interest, golf isn’t just a sport—it’s a multi-billion-dollar lifestyle market.

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Dota 2 Reclaims the Throne with $23.9M Prize Pool

The 2024 eSports prize pool leaderboard is in, and Dota 2 is back on top with $23.9M in tournament winnings, followed closely by Counter-Strike 2 ($20.8M) and Arena of Valor ($19.8M).

Why it matters: Big prize pools don’t just mean bragging rights, they’re a signal of where the eyeballs (and sponsor dollars) are heading. With titles like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Valorant still commanding millions in payouts, the competitive gaming economy remains robust across both PC and mobile ecosystems.

But note the shift: mobile-first titles like PUBG Mobile and Arena of Valor are climbing fast, pointing to eSports’ global expansion beyond the console-and-PC strongholds.

Bottom line: In eSports, cash = credibility, and this year’s top games are defining the future of monetized play.

"The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same"

Colin R. Davis