Outfield e Ingresse querem R$ 500 mi para antecipar bilheterias do futebol

Outfield Ventures, a specialized sports management firm, is raising up to R$ 500 million in a new fund to accelerate the collection of ticket revenue and shareholder program receivables from Brazilian football clubs. The fund is being created in partnership with Ingresse, a ticketing company that handles ticket sales for 10 Serie A clubs, including Grêmio, Botafogo, Fortaleza, and Bahia.

Outfield already has R$ 100 million in commitments from two independent fund managers, a major Brazilian bank, and some multi-family offices, aiming to reach between R$ 300 million and R$ 500 million in the coming months. This is the sixth football-specific fund for Outfield, with the previous one raising R$ 100 million last year for FIDC Futebol, which anticipates receivables from clubs, including ticket sales, shareholder payments, broadcast rights, player sales, and sponsorships.

Outfield's credit manager, Felipe Araújo, stated that while the FIDC Futebol is doing well, the ticketing strategy is too important to be included in the broader strategy. The timing of this fund seems favorable as the revenue from clubs has dropped significantly due to the ban on betting. Betting revenue is now more relevant and can be better managed.

Improving the customer experience at games or during ticket purchases can increase ticket sales and shareholder income. The credit risk of the fund is low because the ticket revenue flows directly into the fund without passing through the club's account. The partnership with Ingresse also allows for visibility into the club's ticket sales history.

Outfield has already committed R$ 100 million to two independent fund managers, a major Brazilian bank, and some multi-family offices, with plans to raise the remaining R$ 400 million in the next few months. The fund will initially work with the 10 clubs already partnered with Ingresse, with the goal of expanding the client base over time.

Ingresse's CEO, Gabriel Benarrós, sees the fund as an evolution of a business they have been doing informally. They started with their own capital, raised a generalist FIDC, and now are capturing a dedicated fund for football together with Outfield.