Quick Insights
US teams like Atlanta Braves Holdings $BATRA ( ▲ 0.4% ) remain steady as top stocks, while European club shares reflect cautious investor sentiment.
DraftKings $DKNG ( ▲ 0.9% ) is on track for historic profitability, spotlighting sharp growth in sports betting; meanwhile, esports stocks are under pressure despite strong fan numbers.
Big moves in digital streaming as Amazon Prime Video $AMZN ( ▼ 1.66% ) , Disney+ $DIS ( ▼ 1.06% ) , and FuboTV $FUBO ( ▲ 4.83% ) gain sports rights and reshape global viewing.
Major investment groups Apollo Global and CVC Capital launch billion-dollar funds, driving rapid growth in sports ownership, lending, and refinancing.
Stadium development accelerates with D.C. backing the Commanders’ $3.7B stadium, a massive public-private milestone.
Health tech: Somnee and major athlete campaigns highlight growing interest and investment in sports wearables and wellness platforms.
Sponsorship shakeup: Apollo Tyres replaces Dream11 on Indian cricket kits, and Adidas pivots from Germany to Liverpool FC in a high-stakes branding play.
Latest Market News
Jonathan Clements, Longtime WSJ Columnist, Dies at 62
September 22, 2025
Stock Market News, Sept. 22, 2025: Nasdaq Rises to Record After Nvidia, OpenAI Link Up
September 22, 2025
Scaramucci-Backed Crypto Treasury Company Launches With $550 Million Fundraising Plan
September 22, 2025
Latest Sports News
2025 NFL Power Rankings Week 4: How Many Teams Are Actually Great?
September 22, 2025
NFL Week 3 Recap: 10 Stats from Jordan Davis to Caleb Williams
September 22, 2025
Indiana No Longer a Cinderella: Why Joel Klatt Thinks Hoosiers Are Better in 2025
September 22, 2025
This Weeks Sports Edge Index
The Sports Edge Index provides a curated benchmarking tool, tracking the largest publicly traded companies across all major segments of the global sports industry. While no financial advice is included, this index allows investment professionals and sports fans to track trends and valuations across asset classes.
Sports Teams & Franchises
Manchester United $MANU ( ▼ 0.33% ) remains one of the world's most popular clubs, but team-focused stocks in Europe have shown marginal movement reflecting cautious investor sentiment amidst an uncertain European sports climate.
Atlanta Braves Holdings $BATRA ( ▲ 0.4% ) continues to attract steady trading volume, benefiting from strong US MLB attendance and robust media rights revenue.
Sports Betting & iGaming
DraftKings $DKNG ( ▲ 0.9% ) is on track for its first profitable year in history, with projected 2025 revenues of $7.5 billion, a dramatic 34% annual increase driven primarily by growth in Sportsbook operations.
The $119 billion global sports betting market is trending up, with leading entities like Caesars $CZR ( ▲ 0.7% ) and Flutter Entertainment $FLUT ( ▲ 0.29% ) steadily expanding market share.
Fantasy Sports & Esports
Publicly traded esports teams have seen falling share prices despite record fan engagement. NIP Group $NIPG ( ▼ 6.42% ) has experienced a 90% share price drop from its IPO.
GameSquare Holdings $GAME ( ▼ 1.75% ) and OverActive Media $OAMCF ( ▼ 1.52% ) noting declining market caps amid persistent profitability challenges.
Digital Streaming Platforms
FuboTV $FUBO ( ▲ 4.83% ) and Disney+ $DIS ( ▼ 1.06% ) are gaining traction, benefiting from ongoing sports rights wars and cord-cutting trends globally.
Amazon Prime Video $AMZN ( ▼ 1.66% ) isn’t just the U.S. favorite, it’s a rising power in Europe and Asia-Pacific, with market share gains driven by blockbuster rights deals for local and international leagues (UEFA, IPL, NFL).
This Weeks Global Sports, Business of Sport & Sports Investment News
Private Equity/Investing/ETF
Apollo Unveils $5B ‘Forever Fund’ to Supercharge Global Sports Investments
Apollo Global Management is making headlines this week with the launch of a $5 billion permanent capital sports investment vehicle, its first dedicated “forever fund” targeting club lending and equity stakes across sports assets globally.
Apollo, is ramping up sports finance after deals such as its $107 million loan to Nottingham Forest and active talks to acquire a stake in Atlético Madrid, potentially valuing the Spanish club at over $3.5 billion.
CVC Launches $14B Global Sport Group as Ares Expands Club and Credit Play
CVC Capital Partners has formed a $14 billion Global Sport Group, consolidating stakes in LaLiga, Ligue 1, WTA, Six Nations, Indian Premier League, and more under one umbrella for global refinancing and expansion.
Ares Management is reportedly preparing another sports and media fund to build on its current club holdings: Inter Miami, Miami Dolphins, Chelsea FC, McLaren Racing, and the France SailGP Team. Ares’ latest initiatives target both equity and debt, including a €1.5 billion private credit secondaries transaction in Europe and a push into new asset classes for individual investors.
State Street Teams Up with WNBA to Drive Investing and Community Impact
State Street Investment Management has entered a multi-year partnership with the WNBA, becoming the league’s official investment management and ETF partner, with its SPY ETF $SPY ( ▲ 0.47% ) as a key component.
This collaboration aims to educate fans on investing while supporting community initiatives like youth clinics and court refurbishments.
Stadiums & Infrastructure
DC Green Lights $3.7 Billion Commanders Stadium, Paving Way for Team’s Return in 2030
The Washington Commanders just secured a landmark $3.7 billion stadium and mixed-use redevelopment deal after the D.C. Council voted 11-2 in favor, marking one of the most transformative public-private partnerships in city and NFL history. The team is investing $2.7 billion into a state-of-the-art 65,000-seat domed stadium, with D.C. providing $1 billion for key infrastructure and public assets, targeting the 2030 NFL season.
Sports Technology & Wearables
NBA Backs Somnee’s New Sleep Wearable After Pilot Boosts Metrics
Somnee, a startup focused on enhancing sleep quality through wearable technology, has launched its second-generation device and secured an equity investment from NBA Investments. The investment was contingent on positive results from a six-week pilot study involving NBA and WNBA staff, which demonstrated significant improvements in sleep metrics such as reduced interruptions and increased REM sleep. The updated Somnee device features enhanced comfort and advanced AI-driven neurostimulation algorithms.
Sports Broadcasting & Media
NBC Secures Sunday Night MLB Rights in New Era of Broadcast and Streaming Primetime Sports
NBC’s upcoming rights deal with Major League Baseball underscores the sustained value of broadcast television amid a growing streaming market, featuring a Sunday night regular season showcase and early postseason rounds. This agreement, part of a broader media rights restructuring including revised pacts with ESPN and Netflix for the Home Run Derby, aims to enhance MLB’s national reach through both linear broadcasts and significant presence on Peacock streaming from 2026 to 2028.
Bleacher Report Lands Exclusive NFL Deal to Boost Digital Sponsorships and Launch Fan-First Content
Bleacher Report, under Warner Bros. Discovery, has launched its first official NFL season partnership aimed at boosting sponsorship revenue by 50% this year. The deal grants Bleacher Report exclusive access to game highlights, major events like the draft and Super Bowl, and digital footage from eight games. This access enables the company to experiment with new content formats and audience engagement strategies focused on enhancing the fan experience through unique perspectives such as tailgate activities and sideline views.
Sponsorships
Apollo Tyres Replaces Dream11 as Indian Cricket’s Jersey Sponsor in Record Rs 4.5 Crore-per-Match Deal Through 2027
Apollo Tyres has secured a high-profile jersey sponsorship deal with the Indian cricket team through 2027, replacing Dream11 following regulatory changes that banned betting and real-money gaming advertising. The company will pay Rs 4.5 crore (approximately $500,000 USD) per match to the BCCI, exceeding Dream11’s previous per game contribution, marking one of the most lucrative sponsorship contracts in recent Indian cricket history.
Adidas Swaps Germany for Liverpool in Strategic Masterstroke
Adidas lost its storied partnership with Germany’s national football team after Nike outbid them with a deal worth circa. €100 million a year starting in 2027, ending over 70 years of tradition. In response, Adidas pivoted quickly, securing Liverpool FC as a flagship club partner. Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden has publicly referred to the shift as a highly successful strategic move, even labelling the Liverpool deal ‘’the best investment decision ever.’’ A bold maneuver that Adidas project will amplify greater returns and global brand impact.
Join our Twitter Conversations:
With record-breaking sports kit sales after Liverpool’s Adidas deal, are fan-driven retail surges reshaping how sponsors value football partnerships? How critical is merch demand in modern sports business strategy?
— #Sports Edge Insight (#@SportsEdgeIn)
6:36 AM • Sep 19, 2025