Liverpool and LA Lakers deals set new bar for sport investment
In one week Fenway Sports Group (FSG) sold 38 per cent of Liverpool to a consortium led by Amit Bhatia that also includes Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin at a £5.5bn valuation, and former Disney chief Bob Iger and Donald Trump-linked Josh Kushner agreed to buy the LA Lakers for £9bn. These deals are massive, [...]
In a week marked by significant financial moves, sports investment has reached new heights. Fenway Sports Group (FSG) sold 38% of Liverpool to a consortium led by Amit Bhatia, alongside Jeff Bezos, Eduardo Saverin, Bob Iger, and Donald Trump associate Josh Kushner. The consortium valued Liverpool at £5.5bn, setting a new benchmark for sports investment.
The investors involved have backgrounds in consumer technology and media, perceiving sports franchises similarly. For the NBA, a $76bn media rights deal with Disney, NBC, and Amazon ensures a steady cash flow. Additionally, the LA Lakers' value lies in its content engine, with at least 82 games per season providing continuous programming and generating income from various sources.
Bob Iger's extensive experience in brand management at Disney provides a unique approach to sports franchises. FSG, which retains ownership and operational control of Liverpool, benefits from the club's £700m revenue, with less than half coming from commercial sources. The investment landscape shows that there's more money available than assets to buy, making the focus shift from who can pay to who can generate value.
This trend has been developing for decades, driven by rising media rights packages and institutional capital. These deals mark a new benchmark in sports investment, establishing a standard for others to measure their performance.
Written by urgent.news from City AM's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
