FRANCHISE SALE

The San Diego Padres are expected to break MLB records with this move. The rumored sale price is north of $3 billion, shattering the current record of $2.4 billion set by the New York Mets in 2020.

If the Padres were to sell for that much, it would be a massive shift in MLB evaluations and could change the game in MLB franchise ownership. And yet, the Padres are currently operating at a deficit.

Future Media Right Deals Spikes Valuation
In 2028, the national media rights are set to expire, which will lead to a new deal and more money invested into the MLB. And with lots of uncertainty surrounding the near future of the MLB (salary caps, collective bargaining, player lockouts, etc.) a $3 billion entry point for a franchise could be a great investment.

⚾ Read more from The Sporting News here

MULTI-SPORT OWNERSHIP

Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner, the owners of the Denver Broncos, have now been approved by the MLB as a minority shareholder of the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies are valued at $1.68 billion according to Forbes.

The Rockies announced that this investment will bring the team fully out of all outstanding debt.

An Already Established Portfolio Grows
The Rockies join the Broncos as an asset for the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, alongside a minority stake in the Arizona Diamondbacks. Other partners with their group are Formula 1 driver, Lewis Hamilton, famous business professional, Mellody Hobson, and former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.

🏈 🤝 ⚾ Read the full ESPN article here

⬆ Rory Mcllory. After becoming only the 4th golfer to ever win back-to-back Masters tournaments, Rory Mcllory has solidified himself as one of the legends of the sport. But his winnings also brought in the best Masters viewership in 11 years. CBS averaged around 14 million viewers on Mcllory’s historic Sunday. — Golf Week

⬆ NBA Viewership. The NBA saw a 16% increase in viewership after just 1 year of their new media rights deal. The league announced that it averaged 1.78 million viewers across multiple networks during the 2025-26 regular season. It was the most watched season in the last 7 years. — Front Office Sports

⬆ The French Open. The French Open announced its prize money has increased by about 10%, rising to a grand total of 61.7 million Euros, or $72.1 million dollars. The French Open begins on Sunday, May 24th in Paris. — AP

⬇ College Spring Games. Some major college football programs are starting to cancel or limit spring games due to concerns around tampering and the transfer portal. What was once a key fan engagement opportunity is now being viewed as a potential risk. — Read More Here

PRIVATE EQUITY

Serie A, Italy’s most competitive soccer league, has begun their search for private equity’s assistance in the leagues international media rights business. Among the potential suitors are the usual suspects, with Apollo, CVC, Ares, and Sixth Street all on the short list. Bids for the deal are rumored to be up to 49%

Previous Lack of Club Support
Serie A has a history of struggling to sell their media rights, including a plan in 2021 that was destroyed due to the league’s 20 clubs failing to “reach the majority to approve a deal.” 14 of the 2o clubs in the league must be in favor for a deal to be approved.

European Competition & Comparison
With abroad viewership in the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League growing, Serie A is trying to infiltrate on that momentum of other major leagues. Potential PE investments in Serie A would mirror similar moves made by other leagues, including Spain and France.

⚽ Read full Reuters article here

NWSL EXPANSION

Haslam Sports Group, the group that also owns the Columbus Crew and Cleveland Browns, is leading a group of investors to bring an NWSL franchise to Columbus. The city and Haslam are working on a plan that would entice the NWSL with public and private funds. Earlier this month, a new 2% tax on Columbus Crew games and other events at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, where the NWSL team would play, was implemented. Around a dozen cities are also pushing for the 18th NWSL franchise.

What Now?
On April 13th, there was a city council meeting to discuss facility and funding plans for the franchise. The meeting was met with both supporters and frustrated residents, whose frustration stems from public funding going toward a private project.

🏟 Read full Axios article here