Could Promotion-Relegation work in College Football?
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment has sold a stake in the company to Arctos Sports Partners, reportedly valuing the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils at $3 billion.
The deal allows Arctos — a private equity investor that has raised at least $5 billion across multiple funds — to purchase more than a 5% stake in HBSE over an undisclosed period.
- Arctos is the first private equity fund to invest in the NHL with stakes in the Tampa Bay Lightning and Minnesota Wild.
- The fund bought a 17% stake in the Sacramento Kings in September 2021, valuing the franchise at $1.8 billion.
- It reportedly holds stakes in five MLB teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Arctos has investments outside the U.S. and its pro sports leagues.
It holds a minority stake in Fenway Sports Group, which owns Liverpool, the Boston Red Sox, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The fund also invested $36 million in Italian soccer club Atalanta last month.
Business Partners
In January, David Blitzer agreed to buy a controlling stake in MLS club Real Salt Lake. The deal, which includes MLS NEXT Pro’s Real Monarchs and Rio Tinto Stadium, involves Arctos in the transaction.
In May, Arctos closed an investment in Elevate Sports Ventures, a consulting firm and joint venture between HBSE, Creative Artists Agency, and the San Francisco 49ers.
