Liverpool and LA Lakers deals set new benchmark for sports investment
UKPulse Money Desk
Fenway Sports Group has sold 38 per cent of Liverpool at a £5.5bn valuation, while the LA Lakers have been acquired for £9bn. These deals are seen as establishing a new benchmark for sports investment.
- Fenway Sports Group sold 38 per cent of Liverpool to a consortium led by Amit Bhatia, valuing the club at £5.5bn.
- Former Disney chief Bob Iger and Josh Kushner agreed to buy the LA Lakers for £9bn.
- The deals involve investors with backgrounds in consumer technology and media, viewing sports franchises as content engines and growth assets.
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has sold 38 per cent of Liverpool to a consortium led by Amit Bhatia, which includes Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin. This transaction values the football club at £5.5bn.
In a separate deal, former Disney chief Bob Iger and Josh Kushner agreed to acquire the LA Lakers for £9bn. These acquisitions occurred within the same week.
The investors involved in these deals, who have experience building large-scale consumer technology and media businesses, are reportedly approaching sports franchises in a similar manner. This shift is seen as establishing a new benchmark for how sports assets are evaluated and invested in.
Why this matters: These deals establish a new benchmark for the valuation and investment approach in sports assets, with franchises increasingly viewed as consumer and media businesses.