Apollo Sports Capital is interested in taking a stake in an NFL franchise as the league continues to open team ownership to institutional investors, according to Private Equity Wire reporting on a Bloomberg report citing comments from CEO Al Tylis. Tylis said at Bloomberg Power Players New York on Thursday, “We’re interested in any great sports property anywhere in the world, which clearly includes the NFL.”
NFL private equity framework sets parameters for investors
The NFL launched its private equity ownership framework in 2024, according to Private Equity Wire. The framework allows a select group of approved investment firms to acquire stakes of up to 10% in teams, and each investor is permitted to hold interests in as many as six franchises.
Apollo Sports Capital has not been among the firms approved by the league under the programme.
Apollo Sports Capital portfolio expansion and capital deployed
Apollo Sports Capital is a sports-focused investment platform that has rapidly expanded its portfolio since being established by Apollo Global Management about a year ago, according to Private Equity Wire. Tylis said Apollo Sports Capital has invested or committed approximately $13bn across sports-related transactions.
The platform’s investments include a $2.6bn stake in the New York Yankees, a transaction announced last month. Apollo Sports Capital also has holdings in Spanish football club Atlético de Madrid and Welsh side Wrexham AFC.
Yankees transaction illustrates investor-owner dynamics, Tylis says
Tylis said the Yankees deal highlighted one of the distinctive characteristics of sports investing. Following completion of the transaction, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner congratulated him and told him, “welcome to the family.”
Tylis said that reaction underlined how sports assets can create a relationship with investors that differs from more conventional investment sectors such as real estate, where transactions tend to be more commercially focused. Tylis said, “It’s a connection in a way that I think is just different than your typical businesses,” and added, “This means something different.”
Widely-known context: The NFL is a professional American football league. Widely-known context: Institutional investors can include private equity firms and other investment managers.
