RedBird Ready to Walk from NFLPA Business

RedBird Capital, the private investment firm with investments in the likes of YES Network and Fenway Sports Group, is looking to divest its 40% stake in OneTeam partners, a sports management firm focused on servicing player associations. 

OneTeam was launched by the NFLPA, MLBPA, and RedBird Capital in 2019. Its purpose is to oversee licensing agreements as well as help athletes maximize their name value, image, and likeness rights. 

The initial $125 million investment, made by RedBird in late 2019 for a 40% stake in OneTeam, equated to a post-money valuation of $312.5 million.

Since then, the Wall Street brass has indicated that the sports licensing business could be worth north of $2 billion — roughly six times the return on RedBirds initial capital.

OneTeam is at the head of the movement.

• In 2021, the NFLPA reported $33.89 million of revenue directly attributable to OneTeam.
• During the same period, the MLBPA reported attributable revenues of $13.4 million to OneTeamNew.
• Investors in OneTeam will likely see value in the potential from NIL, monetization through NFTs, and the existing licensing agreements in place. 

While MLBPA members have raised questions  concerning a conflict of interest with their ownership investment in Fenway Sports Group, the justification for an exit is likely due to the increased valuation and short-term investment horizon of the private equity firm.