Apollo Global Management has officially launched Apollo Sports Capital, a dedicated investment platform focused on the burgeoning sports finance market. The firm has appointed Al Tylis as the chief executive officer to spearhead this initiative. The platform aims to target credit and hybrid investment opportunities across sports franchises, venues, and events, utilizing structured lending and equity positions—both minority and majority—in sports teams.
The ambitious venture is set to manage assets totaling $5 billion, reflecting Apollo's strategic intent to tap into the lucrative and rapidly expanding sports sector. Tylis, who has a rich background in real estate and prior sports investments—including stakes in Mexico’s Club Necaxa, Colombia’s La Equidad, and the Brooklyn Pickleball Team—brings valuable operational and investment expertise to the table. Joining Tylis are Sam Porter as chief strategy officer, along with Apollo partners Rob Givone and Lee Solomon, who will serve as co-portfolio managers.
This launch underscores a growing trend of private equity and alternative asset managers entering the sports landscape, with other notable firms such as Ares, CVC Capital Partners, Arctos Partners, Elliott Management, and Oaktree Capital also making significant investments in sports teams, leagues, and media rights deals. Earlier this year, Avenue Capital Group successfully raised over $1 billion for a sports fund, further highlighting the increasing interest in this sector.
Apollo has already been active in financing sports teams and is exploring various opportunities, including a potential majority stake in the Spanish football club Atlético de Madrid, as well as supporting European football transfers and initiatives aimed at monetizing media rights in Mexico.
As the sports finance sector continues to evolve, Apollo’s entry with a dedicated platform and substantial capital commitment is likely to impact shareholders and employees within the targeted franchises, while also reshaping the competitive landscape of sports investment.
In terms of regulatory considerations, it remains essential for Apollo Sports Capital to navigate any necessary approvals related to the acquisitions or investments they pursue, particularly given the heightened scrutiny of sports franchise ownership and investment practices. The expected timeline for the platform to become fully operational and begin deploying its capital is yet to be specified, but the strategic positioning within this growing market suggests an aggressive approach to achieving its financial objectives.