Apollo Sports Capital - Latest Investments

Apollo latest investment: $2.6bn into The New York Yankees providing a combination of debt and equity in the parent company of the storied MLB franchise. 

The parent company includes the YES Network and Legends Hospitality, and stakes in the Italian soccer club AC Milan(10%) and 10% in the MLS club New York City FC.

Sport has shifted from “culture and entertainment” to a $2.5 trillion investable ecosystem, according to Apollo’s own analysis.

Massive Growth: The sports industry is projected to grow from $97B (2025) to $185.9B (2035), driven by digital innovation and new sponsorship models.

Clubs and leagues need capital - and banks won’t provide it: Traditional lenders are cautious about lending to sports organisations. Apollo fills this gap by offering:

• Structured finance

• Hybrid capital

• Minority equity stakes

• Long‑term loans secured against assets

Regulatory changes make football safer for investors: New governance frameworks  including the UK’s Independent Football Regulator are designed to improve long‑term financial sustainability. This increases investor confidence.

Sports franchises now have diversified revenue streams: Apollo sees predictable, multi‑channel revenue:

• Broadcasting & streaming

• Sponsorship

• Merchandising

• Stadium events

• Global fanbases

• Digital engagement

These make sports assets more stable than they were a decade ago

What Sets Apollo Sports Capital Apart from Other Private Equity Firms: 

Permanent capital - not short‑term PE cycles:

Apollo Sports Capital is a permanent‑capital platform, meaning:

• No pressure to exit quickly

• Long‑term partnership with clubs

• Ability to invest across cycles

• Stability for leagues and franchises

Dual strategy: credit + equity (rare in sports PE)

This hybrid approach is unusual,  most PE firms only take equity.

Apollo’s model allows:

• Stable debt returns

• Upside from equity appreciation

• Flexible solutions for clubs needing liquidity

Apollo has already deployed $17B in sports since 2025

• $3.5bn: Club & Franchise Investments

• $5bn: Sports Leagues & Media Rights Financing

• $4bn: Stadiums, Venues & Infrastructure

• $2.5bn: Sports‑Adjacent Entertainment & Events

• $2bn: Sports Technology, Data & Analytics

Apollo investments (upto August 2026)

• MLB Franchise Ney York Yankess:

  • $2.5bn Investment into The parent company which includes the YES Network and Legends Hospitality, and stakes in the Italian soccer club AC Milan(10%) and 10% in the MLS club New York City FC.

• Atlético de Madrid - 55%: valuing the club @ €2.5bn. ASC first majority team acquisition

  • The acquisition includes Atlético's affiliated clubs Atlético de San Luis (Mexico) and Atlético Ottawa (Canada),

  • This investment reduced ARES Management stake to 5% and Quantum Pacific to 25%

• Sports Invest Holdings Limited

  • Apollo's debt subsidiary, ADS provided £40m @ 10.25% to Sports Invest Holdings - a player agency owned by Kia Joorabchian

  • ADS has also loaned money to TKO and Delta 2 an entity that manages F1 debt 

• United Pickleball Association:

  • Apollo has become one of the most influential institutional investors in the rapidly growing pickleball ecosystem through its strategic investment in the United Pickleball Association (UPA).

  • The UPA is the umbrella organisation that oversees the sport’s two major professional properties:

    • Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour)

    • Major League Pickleball (MLP)

• Apollo’s investment is designed to consolidate, commercialise, and professionalise pickleball at scale.

• Nottingham Forrest:

  • 2024 provided an £80m 3yr loan @ 8.75%, marking the firm's first direct financing in English football. Secured against the City Ground stadium. £55m was allocated to refinance existing debt, £25m for working capital.

• G2 Esports:

  • Apollo invested in one of the world’s largest esports organisations.

  • Stake size undisclosed.

• Wrexham AFC (Wales): Minority Stake

  • Apollo holds a minority stake alongside existing celebrity owners.

  • Stake size not publicly disclosed, but estimated <20%

• Club Necaxa (Mexico) : Minority Stake

  • Apollo invested through Al Tylis’s ownership group.

  • Al Tylis’s ownership group. 50% combined group ownership

  • Apollo’s portion undisclosed.

• La Equidad (Colombia): Minority Stake

  • Apollo invested through Al Tylis’s ownership group.

  • Al Tylis’s ownership group. >98% combined group ownership

  • Apollo’s portion undisclosed.

• MARI: raised more than $2 billion in equity from a consortium of investors including Apollo Global Management, RedBird Capital Partners, Qatar Investment Authority, Ares Management, and the Miami Dolphins ownership group. Apollo served as a principal investor through Apollo Sports Capital

• The MARI portfolio includes:

  • Mutua Madrid Open (ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000)

  • Miami Open presented by Itaú (ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000)

  • Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open (WTA)

  • Mubadala Citi DC Open (WTA)

  • SP Open (WTA)

  • Exhibition events including Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic and MGM Macau Tennis Masters

  • Management of ATP tournaments including Chengdu Open, Hong Kong Open, Japan Open, and Rio Open

  See our previous post on other Apollo investments and key personnel