Dealmakers in Jerseys

As valuations for professional sports franchises hit unprecedented levels, JPMorgan Chase has emerged as one of the most powerful players behind the scenes.

JPMorgan’s Billion-Dollar Playbook: Inside the Bank Powering the Sports World

From historic basketball team sales to soccer stadium megaprojects, the bank has positioned itself as the go-to financier and advisor for the sports elite.

In 2024, JPMorgan took a bold step by officially launching its Sports Investment Banking Group, co-headed by Eric Menell and Gian Piero Sammartano. The unit consolidates the firm’s extensive sports-related operations—including lending, M&A advisory, and infrastructure financing—into a single powerhouse team. With more than $10 billion in sports deals since 2021, the bank’s commitment to this niche is no small bet.

JPMorgan’s success hinges on understanding the unique financial needs of sports team owners—who are often asset-rich but liquidity-constrained. According to JPMorgan Private Bank, buyers may not have billions in liquid cash to acquire a team, but they may hold significant non-liquid assets like art or private equity stakes. The bank helps unlock that capital, offering specialty lending solutions to finance acquisitions while complying with league rules. This strategy is especially appealing as sports teams increasingly become trophy assets for billionaires and institutional investors.

Among its recent headline-making deals, JPMorgan advised the Grousbeck family on the $6.1 billion sale of the Boston Celtics, once the most expensive team deal in history. That record was broken months later when Mark Walter acquired the Los Angeles Lakers for a reported $10 billion. The Celtics deal alone involved outreach to more than 180 high-net-worth individuals globally—an effort spearheaded by the private banking division.

In addition to advising on team acquisitions, JPMorgan has also played a critical role in stadium development. It was the lead arranger of $650 million in financing for Miami Freedom Park, Inter Miami CF’s new 25,000-seat home, and structured over $645 million in bonds and loans for Everton FC’s stadium on Liverpool’s waterfront. It also arranged $425 million for Etihad Park, the future stadium for New York City FC.

As the bar chart reveals, most of JPMorgan’s deals land in the $400M–$650M range. However, it’s also advised on blockbuster transactions like the $21.4 billion WWE–UFC merger, now known as TKO Group, where it represented WWE.

This expansion into sports finance reflects a broader trend. Goldman Sachs, Citi, and other investment banks have launched similar sports-focused divisions. But JPMorgan’s integrated approach—marrying investment banking, wealth management, and specialty lending—may give it a decisive edge.

According to a recent JPMorgan report, the demand for sports team and stadium financing is driven by both scarcity and emotional value. There are only ~200 major pro sports teams across major leagues, yet over 1,500 billionaires in the U.S. alone. That supply-demand imbalance is driving prices ever higher.

As SportsPro Media notes, the creation of JPMorgan’s sports investment team was a natural progression after years of growing activity. With the firm involved in 10 of the last 15 major global sports transactions, its influence in this arena shows no signs of slowing down.

From courtside to pitchside, JPMorgan isn’t just watching the game—it’s rewriting the rules of the financial playbook for global sports.

Sources & References

Fortune. (2025). An elite new JP Morgan unit is driving deals for sports teams and stadiums—and bringing in billions. https://fortune.com/2025/07/18/jpmorgan-chase-sports-deals-boston-celtics-soccer-valuations-goldman-sachs-citigroup-lionel-messi-manchester-united/ 

Sportspro. (2024). JPMorgan forms specialist sports investment banking team. https://www.sportspro.com/news/jp-morgan-sports-investment-banking-team-creation/