2024 marked a historic year for Sports Tech M&A, with over $86B in total announced deal value across more than 1,100 M&A, private placement and public market transactions. While the broader M&A market was still recovering from a muted 2023, the sports tech sector demonstrated notable resilience and momentum — a trend that has continued into early 2025.
Download the Full 2024 Sports Tech Market Report for detailed analysis of top deals, financing activity, investor trends, and our forward-looking outlook. Key highlights from the report include:
M&A Activity Reaches New Highs
- 2024 saw $68B in disclosed M&A value across 486 announced deals, representing a 1.7x increase in deal value over 2023.
- Eighteen $1B+ M&A deals, including Silver Lake’s $13B take-private of Endeavor and Skydance’s $8.4B acquisition of Paramount.
Financing Activity Remained Selective, Yet Strong at the Top End
- $4.4B was raised across 647 private placements, including 17 financings of $50M or more.
- Major financings included Riddell ($400M), Infinite Reality ($350M), Cosm ($250M), EGYM ($200M), and Oura ($200M).
- Notable investors included Will Ventures, Bolt Ventures, and Ryan Sports Ventures.
Continued Capital Formation for Sports and Media-Focused Funds
- More than $6B in capital was raised in 2024 for sports and media investment strategies.
- Arctos raised a $4.1B 2nd sports focused fund, while Shamrock raised $1.6B for its sixth fund.
Public Market Confidence Shows Early Signs of Return
- Public companies including Liberty Media, Peloton, and Flutter executed major debt refinancings, signaling a rebound in investor confidence.
Market Outlook
- Strong M&A activity anticipated to persist, following record momentum in 2024, with both strategic and financial buyers expected to remain highly active
- Expected gradual increase in mid to late-stage financings, early stage rounds continue to lead the deal counts
- Several sports tech companies could pursue IPOs in 2025/26 as market conditions improve
- Key segment to watch: AI and predictive analytics, fan engagement and immersive tech, ticketing and venue tech
Access the Full Report for a comprehensive view of M&A deal and fundraising activity, investor movements, sector dynamics, and what’s ahead in 2025.
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