Brian Wheeler and Lyman Thai Comment on Private Equity's Entry into Niche Sports

Foley & Lardner LLP partners Brian Wheeler and Lyman Thai described private equity’s growing interest in niche sports in the Pensions & Investments article, “Ares Management buys minority stake in French sailing team.”

“PE firms are now setting their sights on more niche areas of the sporting world, increasingly investing in less traditional sports,” Wheeler and Thai wrote in a Foley blog quoted in the article. “Because they are not as heavily funded as traditional sports, there is a real opportunity for PE to make an investment that will lead to significant growth. Pickleball, indoor golf, lacrosse, sailing, mixed martial arts, and bull riding are all areas of investment today.”

“While some of these sports might not have the national media coverage of the major leagues (yet), they do offer firms an entrée into investment in the sporting world for investors who might be looking to diversify and expand into this exciting area,” they added, noting the potential for growth as viewing options and audiences multiply.

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