About This Fund
Avenue Sports Fund is the inaugural sports-focused private equity fund raised by Avenue Capital Group, the global alternative investment manager founded by Marc Lasry and Sonia Gardner with over USD 9.5 billion in assets under management spanning credit, distressed, and private equity strategies. Launched in November 2023, the fund was designed to capitalize on the accelerating institutionalization of professional sports ownership, driven by structural changes in how leagues permit institutional capital participation, rising media rights valuations, and the global expansion of major sports franchises.
The fund pursues a multi-capital structure approach, providing debt, preferred equity, and common equity solutions to a wide range of sports and sports-adjacent businesses. Investment targets include professional sports leagues and teams across established and emerging leagues, women's sports franchises and ownership platforms, sports media and entertainment rights, sports technology, and sports-adjacent real estate. The strategy predominantly targets opportunities in the United States and Europe, leveraging Avenue Capital's existing networks and Marc Lasry's unique operational perspective as the former Co-Owner of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. A roster of athlete advisors including Stephen Curry, Harry Kane, Candace Parker, Michael Strahan, and Lindsey Vonn supports deal sourcing and brand credibility.
Avenue Sports Fund held its final close with over USD 1 billion of capital commitments on September 29, 2025, establishing it as one of the largest dedicated sports private equity vehicles globally. The fund's portfolio includes The Bay Golf Club in TGL (the technology golf league by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy), Cosm immersive media company, MLB's Baltimore Orioles, English Premier League club Ipswich Town FC, women's soccer platform Mercury/13, PGA Tour Enterprises, the US SailGP Team, and Trackhouse Entertainment Group. The fund combines deep sports passion with institutional investment rigor, setting a new standard for sports-focused alternative investing.