Could private equity ever own a college athletics team? Restructuring athletic departments post-House
There is a timeless feeling to a college football Saturday. The smell of the food at the tailgates, the pageantry of the marching bands, and the bitter competition between rivals continue to fuel fans in college towns across America in much the same way they have for decades. The same is true for college basketball and any number of other sports that fill stadiums and stir passions.
But while the games and experiences may feel the same, behind the scenes the business of college athletics is experiencing seismic change. Universities that have historically fielded amateur athletic teams are now directly paying their student-athletes, with one report estimating that participating universities will pay their college football players $1.4 billion in 2025.[1] The traditional college athletics revenue and support model simply was not built for this, and as a result, schools are now actively considering alternative options such as restructuring their athletic departments and the assets related thereto to support an increasingly professionalized model.
To continue reading or watching login or register here
Already a member? Sign in
Get access to all of the expert analysis and commentary at LawInSport including articles, webinars, conference videos and podcast transcripts. Find out more here.
- Tags: College Athletics | Commercial | Governance | Investment | NIL | Private Equity | Regulation | Unregulated Collective Investment Schemes (UCIS) | US
Written by
William D. Hall, III
Will Hall is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group at Jones Walker, where he focuses his practice on administrative and civil litigation, with an emphasis on matters involving Florida state regulatory agencies and the entities that fall under their oversight.
Giles Detwiler Beal IV
Det Beal is an associate in the Jones Walker's Corporate Practice Group, where he advises clients across the corporate life cycle, from formation to general corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, venture financings and related liquidity events, and other corporate transactions.
