SeatGeek is going public through Billy Beane’s SPAC, and Kevin Durant’s venture fund is buying in.

The ticketing platform is merging with RedBall Acquisition Corp., co-founded by Oakland A’s executive and minority owner Beane and RedBird Capital founder Gerry Cardinale, at a valuation of roughly $1.35 billion.

• The merger includes a $100 million investment from Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures, Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith, and institutional investors including Accel.
• RedBall raised $575 million in an IPO in August 2020. With the additional investment, the combined company will have $675 million in new cash.
• SeatGeek’s previous investors include Eli and Peyton Manning, Carmelo Anthony’s Melo7 Tech Partners, Nas, and private equity firm TCV.

SeatGeek provides ticketing services to the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, Cleveland Cavaliers, Liverpool F.C., Manchester City, and a handful of other U.S. and European soccer teams, as well as theaters and venues.

With over $5 billion in assets under management, RedBird has numerous sports investments including Fenway Sports Group, the XFL, YES Network, Toulouse FC, the Indian Premier League’s Rajasthan Royals, and OneTeam Partners, an NIL-focused company created by the MLBPA and NFLPA.

The companies estimate the global live entertainment market at $126 billion.

Activewear brand Vuori has received a $400 million investment from SoftBank, valuing the company at $4 billion.

The investment marks one of the largest ever in a private apparel company and allows the California-based company to expand its reach to markets outside the U.S. 

Vuori has thrived as an online retailer — its nine brick-and-mortar locations account for roughly 10% of total sales. With SoftBank’s investment, Vuori plans to open around 100 stores over the next five years. 

Known for its tech investments, SoftBank is establishing a footprint in sports and fitness. 

• In August, the company led a $200 million round in fitness wearable company WHOOP.
• The same month, it was part of a $325 million investment in Fanatics. 
• In September, the company led a $680 million round in soccer NFT platform Sorare.
• The company is set to invest more than $100 million in at-home fitness startup Tempo.

Last month, LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne — the most-followed college athlete on social media — secured her first exclusive brand partnership with Vuori. As part of the “mid-six-figure” deal, Dunne will work with the brand over the next two years.

Lebron James is the newest investor and brand ambassador for Tonal, an at-home fitness startup valued at $1.6 billion after a $250 million Series E round in March.

Financial terms of James’ investment were not disclosed.

The wall-mounted system uses advanced technology to replicate weight-lifting equipment found at brick-and-mortar gyms. The $2,995 machine soared in popularity during the pandemic.

“I’ve used a lot of different machines and different methods,” James said. “Tonal definitely sits right at the top.”

James joins the growing list of Tonal’s athlete investors, which includes Steph Curry, Serena Williams, Sue Bird, Mike Tyson, and Drew Brees. Dragoneer, L Catterton, Cobalt Capital, and Amazon’s Alexa Fund are among its venture capital investors.

Tonal says it has more than 90% of market share in the connected strength category, with system sales increasing 800% between December 2019 and December 2020.

• Earlier this year, Tonal struck a long-term deal to bring workout stations to 40 Nordstrom stores across 20 states — it has 16 brick-and-mortar locations of its own.
• The company says “hundreds of athletes across 40+ leagues and teams” use its product.

In March, Tonal CEO Aly Orady said the company was preparing for an IPO.