Sports as an Asset Class: How Stadium-Anchored Mixed-Use Developments Are Redefining Athlete Investor Opportunities

For most of my life, sports were my profession. I spent over a decade as a professional soccer player, experiencing the highs, lows, and daily grind of the game. But as my playing career transitioned into entrepreneurship and investing, I began to see sports through a different lens.

What I’ve realized is that sports are no longer just entertainment — they’re a powerful and rapidly maturing asset class. From team ownership and athlete-led venture funds to stadium-anchored real estate developments, sports are driving some of the most creative and resilient investment opportunities in the market today.

And at the center of this evolution is a group uniquely positioned to make a difference — the athletes themselves. We’ve spent our careers building relationships, shaping fan communities, and inspiring culture. Now, athletes have the opportunity to move beyond the game and become investors, partners, and builders in the ventures that define the future of sports.

Sports as an Asset Class: A New Frontier for the Athlete Investor

Not long ago, investing in sports meant owning part of a team or sponsoring one. Today, the definition has expanded dramatically. The global sports industry has grown into a multi-trillion-dollar ecosystem that spans media, technology, betting, fan engagement, and real estate.

Institutional investors, private equity funds, and family offices are now categorizing sports as a standalone sector — much like real estate or energy — because it consistently outperforms in three areas:

1. Community loyalty – sports build lifelong audiences.

2. Recurring engagement – fans return season after season.

3. Cross-sector synergy – media, data, and live events multiply value.

This convergence has created an entirely new investment landscape — one that’s cultural, experiential, and economically durable.

The Rise of Stadium-Anchored Mixed-Use Developments

Stadiums have always been community landmarks, but today they’re becoming economic anchors. The new model of stadium-anchored mixed-use projects blends sports with real estate, retail, hospitality, and entertainment to create year-round destinations.

We’ve already seen this evolution in projects like:

• The Battery Atlanta (around the Braves’ Truist Park)

• SoFi Stadium’s Hollywood Park (Los Angeles)

• District Detroit (around Little Caesars Arena)

These aren’t just sports venues — they’re ecosystems. A single development can combine apartments, hotels, restaurants, and event spaces that keep people engaged long after game day.

For investors, that means stable cash flow and long-term appreciation. For cities, it means revitalization, tourism, and job creation. And for athletes, it means something even more compelling — the chance to move from endorsement deals to equity deals.

The Role of the Athlete Investor

Athletes today are thinking beyond contracts and sponsorships. They’re becoming builders and owners in the next generation of sports and real estate.

Names like LeBron James (SpringHill Company), Kevin Durant (Thirty Five Ventures), and Venus Williams (V Starr Interiors) are leading the charge, but there’s room — and need — for far more athletes to join the table.

Athlete investors bring a unique mix of credibility, cultural insight, and brand alignment that few institutions can replicate. They know how fans think, what drives community engagement, and what makes a stadium more than just a building.

In stadium-anchored developments, that athlete involvement is invaluable. Whether co-investing in the real estate, curating fan experiences, or developing media concepts tied to those spaces, athletes have the power to turn physical developments into living ecosystems of fandom.

Where I See the Opportunity

As someone who’s lived inside the world of professional soccer, this intersection of sports and real estate feels especially exciting.

Soccer is uniquely positioned for this growth. U.S. cities are developing community-anchored stadiums — from USL clubs to MLS expansion franchises — and these stadiums are serving as catalysts for local development. A 10,000-seat soccer stadium surrounded by mixed-use assets isn’t just a sports venue; it’s an economic multiplier.

At recent events, I’ve seen growing interest from both family offices and athlete investors in these kinds of projects. The combination of sport, community, and ownership has the potential to reshape how athletes build legacy wealth and how cities define their future.

That’s where I want to play.

Why It Matters

The global sports industry is projected to surpass $600 billion by 2027, and much of that growth will come from sectors like real estate, tech, and data. Stadium-anchored developments sit squarely at the center of all three — tangible, scalable, and full of opportunity.

For investors, this space offers strong financial returns and authentic community impact. For athletes, it’s a chance to own part of the ecosystem we helped build.

The future of sports investing isn’t just about who owns the team — it’s about who owns what’s around it.

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Sports have always been a source of passion, pride, and connection. But as sports evolve into a true asset class, they’re becoming something more: a platform for innovation, ownership, and generational impact.

As a former professional athlete now stepping into the investment world, I’m inspired by the potential to merge my two passions — sports and real estate — into projects that create value far beyond the game itself.

The next chapter of sports investing belongs to those who understand both sides — the game and the growth. And for athletes ready to take ownership, now is the time to get involved.

We’ve played the game. Now it’s time to build around it.