JPMorgan’s Sports IB Machine: Teams, Bonds, Billion-Dollar Deals

Good morning, ! This week we’re diving into ESPNS’s bet on pro wrestling media, big sports deals advised by JPMorgan, the Cincinnati open infrastructure haul, and esports in Europe growing awareness

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MEDIA & SPORTS

ESPN Goes Full Suplex on Streaming

ESPN is betting $1.6B that pro wrestling will help body slam churn for its new $29.99/month streaming service launching Aug. 21. Starting in 2026, WWE’s 10 biggest live events — WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble — will be ESPN exclusives, replacing NBCU’s Peacock deal (at almost double the price tag). The timing is convenient: NFL just took a 10% stake in ESPN’s DTC unit, and ESPN picked up NFL Network and RedZone rights. Chairman Jimmy Pitaro says WWE’s younger, more diverse audience should keep subs from bailing in the off-season. Some events will still air on cable, but make no mistake — this is about locking in year-round must-watch content. Bonus: ESPN also extended NFL Draft coverage and will add a daily draft show next February. (More)

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INVESTOR CORNER

Dealmakers in Jerseys

JPMorgan’s sports playbook isn’t about points—it’s about billions. With its newly launched Sports Investment Banking Team, the firm is now the go-to concierge for asset-rich, cash-light owners looking to finance everything from team acquisitions to 25,000-seat palaces. From advising on the $10B Lakers deal to arranging stadium bonds for Everton and NYCFC, JPM is executing like a championship team. The sweet spot? Deals in the $400M–$650M range, although it helped shepherd the $21.4B WWE–UFC merger, too. In a world where there are 200 teams and 1,500 billionaires, the supply-demand math isn’t just compelling—it’s frothy. (More)

ENTREPRENEURS

Russell Wilson: Quarterback, Capital Backer, Culture Builder

Russell Wilson has built a portfolio that would make most PE funds blush. Beyond his NFL contracts — including a $245M Denver Broncos deal — he’s put capital into ventures from fan engagement app TraceMe (backed by Bezos and Tsai) to helmet maker VICIS. His Good Man Brand apparel line is B-Corp certified and donates 3% of profits to youth causes. Add in Seattle Sounders FC ownership, a Juice Press franchise, and chairing NFL FLAG’s global expansion, and Wilson’s playbook is clear: diversify, brand-build, and stay close to sports. His latest move — producing Sarah’s Oil, a film about a Black teen oil heiress — signals a push into storytelling. Estimated net worth: $165M. Not bad for a guy still under center. (More)

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TECH & INFRASTRUCTURE

Raising the Roof on Ohio Tennis

The Cincinnati Open is in the middle of a $260M campus overhaul, and this week hit a major milestone: topping-out the new 55,000 sq. ft. Clubhouse. This year, the ATP/WTA 1000 is doubling in size to 40.5 acres, adding 31 outdoor courts, a six-court indoor facility, and a fan-centric Pavilion. Fueling it all? Six cornerstone sponsors — Credit One, Western & Southern, P&G, Great American Insurance, Kroger, Fifth Third — each locking in multi-year renewals with perks ranging from signature desserts to Center Court naming rights. Expect 14 days of play, 96-player singles draws, and a festival vibe more Coachella-with-rackets than country-club tennis. (More)

eSPORTS

eSports Europe’s Awareness Gap is Closing

Data shows Europe’s eSports market maturing quickly, with term awareness now near saturation at 85–86%, up from 75% just a few years ago. More telling for monetization potential, definition awareness—people who know what eSports actually is—has jumped from 31% to 50%.

This matters because definition awareness is the gatekeeper to commercial conversion: brands don’t just need audiences that have “heard of” eSports, they need fans who understand and engage with it. Overall reach climbed from 30% to 40%, suggesting broader audience capture, but regular engagement remains flat at 8%, meaning most viewers are still casual.

For investors and rights holders, the opportunity is in converting awareness into habitual consumption—through better local leagues, more consistent scheduling, and integration with mainstream sports ecosystems. The data implies a European market on the verge of scale, but still missing the repeat-engagement flywheel that drives long-term media rights value.

Bottom line: Europe knows eSports. Now it needs to watch eSports—regularly. (More)

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