A sign of the changing tides? The Rise of Women-Led Investment in Sport
min readThe global sports investment landscape has witnessed a remarkable transformation in recent years, with celebrities injecting both capital and glamour in clubs across the globe. Amidst this golden age of celebrity investment, there has been a profound rise of women-led investment groups in sport, such as Michele Kang’s and Mercury 13’s multi-club strategies, Serena Williams’ ownership stake in Toronto Tempo, Reese Witherspoon’s ownership in Nashville Soccer Club and high profile owners including Natalie Portman, America Ferrera and Eva Longoria in Angel City FC. The latest A-list celebrity to board this trend is actor, Anne Hathaway, as part of the women-led acquisition of the Italian SailGP team.
The $45million deal marks the first female ownership group in the league, led by Assia Grazioli-Venier, co-founding partner of Muse Capital. In Matt Hardy’s City AM piece this week, Graziolo-Venier comments that the success of women-led multi-team strategies is down to the women backers not just being investors or operators, but builders. Whilst women’s sports continue to gain prominence and financial viability, with notable examples like Chelsea's Women's Super League team valued at £200 million following Alexis Ohanian's investment, the City AM piece explores that the women-led investment approach is not just about fast financial gain; it is about identifying opportunities for long term strategic and powerful connections.
As Graziolo-Venier notes in the piece, women involved in these investments are maximising marketing opportunities. This is of growing importance as sports teams continue to expand their brand and fan base beyond the field and look for new ways to engage audiences through strategic sponsorships and partnerships, such as Louis Vuitton x Formula 1 and Paris Saint-Germain x Dior. Women’s sports also provide opportunities for positive social impact. Investment in women’s training, facilities and salaries for players, and recruiting more women umpires, referees and coaches is changing the face of sport.
The rise of women-led investment in sport is more than a passing trend; it is a testament to the evolving dynamics of an industry seeing a period of considerable change. The changing tides are certainly here, and they promise a future where women's influence in sports investment is both celebrated and transformative.
Celebrity in sport is becoming ubiquitous but, as Muse Sport argues, those choosing to enter that world need to be builders. Hathaway’s construction era is upon us, then.
