ByZELI GREENBERG

JUNE 17, 2026 14:20

On paper, team ownership looks like a money drain where expenses mount and profits rarely appear. Yet entrepreneurs and executives continue to pursue these assets with determination.

A State Comptroller review from May 2024 showed Premier League clubs generated NIS 671 million in revenue during the 2022-23 campaign. Even so, seven of the fourteen clubs posted combined losses of NIS 49 million.

Equity shortfalls across top-division sides grew from roughly NIS 237 million after the 1999-2000 season to NIS 281 million by 2022-23, leaving nineteen of twenty-eight clubs with negative equity positions.

These numbers highlight ongoing financial pressures. Modest broadcast deals, a constrained sponsorship market and aging facilities raise further questions about the appeal for local investors.

A recent case involves Arik Shtilman, co-founder and CEO of fintech firm Rapyd, who increased his stake in Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball to around 14.5 percent after years as lead sponsor.

Maccabi Tel Aviv functions as a nonprofit with balanced books and posted a modest surplus of NIS 383 thousand in 2024, yet player payroll ranked fourteenth in Europe at roughly 9.5 million euros annually.

By comparison, Turkish side Fenerbahce spends up to 16.5 million euros, Hapoel Tel Aviv reaches 20 million euros and Greek club Panathinaikos approaches 27 million euros on wages.

Rapyd previously pledged three million dollars yearly for seven years as sponsor. Ownership reportedly required Shtilman to invest about 21 million dollars, matching the cumulative sponsorship outlay.

Tech-sector observers viewed the move calmly, while others wondered if it reflected a costly personal indulgence or a calculated business step.

Personal passion may play a role, yet colleagues seek the concrete advantages that lie beyond standard financial projections.

Returns That Outpace Major Indices

A J.P. Morgan study of 111 family offices managing 500 billion dollars in assets found that roughly one-fifth held sports investments between March and August 2025, up from six percent in early 2022.

Sports allocations exceeded spending on luxury items, capturing 34 percent of new commitments versus 23 percent for art and 10 percent for automobiles.

Performance data supports the trend outside Israel. The four major North American leagues delivered average annual returns of 13.2 percent over two decades, surpassing most traditional asset classes.

NFL franchises averaged 6.5 billion dollars in value during 2024, driven largely by expanded media rights.

The NBA recently signed a 76-billion-dollar broadcast agreement, more than double the prior deal and worth roughly 200 million dollars per team each year.

Forbes data show NBA club values rising 596 percent over ten years, reaching an average of four billion dollars by late 2024, with top franchises exceeding ten billion dollars.

Aggregate valuation for all thirty NBA teams climbed to 133 billion dollars in 2024 from 86 billion dollars two years earlier.

NFL media and sponsorship revenue totals about 25 billion dollars annually, including an estimated 750 million dollars from the Super Bowl alone.

Franchise values in the league have risen roughly 600 percent since 2002. The Washington Commanders sold for 6.05 billion dollars in 2023, delivering a 656 percent gain compared with a 245 percent advance in the S and P 500 over the same span.

Visibility and Strategic Access

Merchandise sales add 20 to 40 million dollars yearly for leading clubs, yet many purchases occur in smaller leagues where broadcast income remains limited.

Paul Marino of Themes ETFs notes that lower-league acquisitions often target financially stressed clubs. New owners with operational expertise can purchase at lower entry prices and later unlock value through promotion, facility upgrades or brand growth.

Ownership instantly positions the buyer as a prominent local figure, delivering media exposure and community influence that traditional advertising could not replicate at similar cost.

Additional revenue streams from hospitality, youth programs and non-match facility use frequently improve under professional management.

The primary driver remains upside potential from league promotion, stadium redevelopment or stronger commercial partnerships.

Nevertheless, clubs require continuous funding for facilities, staffing, compliance and player salaries.

Mally Bitzur Parnes of Tefen highlights local networking benefits. Regular interaction with officials, regulators and politicians in the stands can accelerate business discussions and improve access to decision makers.

Shared enthusiasm for the club often fosters informal relationships that ease project approvals or shape favorable regulatory treatment.

Sports coverage dominates local media, amplifying visibility for owners and offering a ready audience that can influence municipal or national policy debates.

Real-estate holdings tied to clubs, combined with tax and regulatory considerations, further enhance the investment case.

CPA Guy Meller of BDO emphasizes the VIP box as Israel's premier networking venue, where brief conversations during matches can advance real-estate or infrastructure deals more efficiently than formal channels.

Many current owners come from construction and development backgrounds precisely because proximity to local authorities proves invaluable for project timelines.