Women’s sport to see increased M&A activity as more investors ‘begin to take note’

March 6, 2024

The global women’s sports market will see more investment activity and attract an expanding group of investors this year, according to Deloitte’s 2024 Sports Investment Outlook report.

Firm expects more investor classes, including institutional investors, private equity funds and high net worth individuals, to ‘begin to take note’ of women’s sport’s continued growth. Women’s sport properties are predicted to create standalone commercial entities to align with growing appetite for investment.

Deloitte also expects sports such as cycling, sailing and padel to attract investment given their increasing popularity, as well as a surge in minority investment in ‘premium sports assets’

According to Deloitte, women’s sport-only properties accounted for 14 per cent of all sports investment deals in 2023, with an extra 34 per cent of agreements focused on mixed properties involving both a men’s and women’s rights holder. SportsPro