Sports teams have gone from trophies to trillion-dollar investment targets

Sports teams are transitioning from being seen as trophy assets to serious investment targets, with private equity deals in the sector growing significantly from 13 deals worth $1.9 billion in 2014 to 71 deals valued at $18.45 billion by 2025. Major leagues like MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL have relaxed institutional ownership rules, enabling valuations such as the Miami Dolphins at $8 billion and the Los Angeles Lakers at $10 billion.