Private Equity

The Big Ten's move to capture private equity capital comes amid a rapidly changing college sports landscape that favors those who can spend big for on-field talent and coaching. A recent legal ruling opened the door for athletic departments to participate in direct revenue sharing with athletes, a decision that has contributed to the financial arms race across college athletics and has private capital groups circling.“Were a deal with private equity to be approved, college sports will have become more corporate than professional sports,” said Erik Gordon, a professor at...

In a day and age where unification is exceedingly rare, the Michigan Board of Regents is in lockstep on one issue: no private equity infiltrating the Big Ten.The board held a previously scheduled meeting on Thursday, Oct. 16 at its Flint campus and amongst a host of issues, discussed the recent idea to bring private equity funding to Big Ten athletic departments. The Big Ten is advancing in talks surrounding a 20-year partnership with UC Investments, the University of California pension system’s investment fund.Jordan Acker, among the most outspoken members...