Shalabh Gupta and Amran Nawaz, Associate Directors in Secretariat’s Global Sports Consulting practice, were recently quoted in an S&P Global article discussing sports team acquisition and valuation trends.

Sports team deal values are reaching record highs in 2025 with no sign of slowing, catalyzed by the growing role of private equity investors in the sports investment landscape. While revenues are steadily increasing, valuations are growing even more rapidly—prompting questions about whether this historic growth is sustainable. In the article, Gupta and Nawaz discuss how strategic operational improvements introduced through PE investments and new ownership models could justify rising sports team valuations beyond traditional revenue metrics.

“We are seeing growing interest from a new profile of investors who view the sports industry as an untapped market with significant potential to provide returns,” Nawaz shares in the article.

Likewise, Gupta states that one particular appeal for investors is the revenue opportunities, which expand beyond team merchandise or traditional media rights. He notes, “…stadiums are increasingly being used for concerts and other sporting events, as clubs look to generate revenue during the [about] 300 days a year when the venue would otherwise sit idle.”

As the influence of private equity investments continues to transform the economics of sports, the definition of winning is shifting—from season records to margins and monetization.

Read the full article here.