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- Investment group boasts team ownership in every major sports league
- Apex Capital, Excel Sports Management and Misfits Gaming join institutional investor lineup
- Sports business leaders Artur Blank, David Blitzer and John Henry also among those backing TMRW
TMRW Sports, the new technology-focused venture from Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, has announced a raft of high-profile backers in its initial investor group.
Athlete investors include the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Stephen Curry, the National Football League’s (NFL) Josh Allen, Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Trea Turner, the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Sidney Crosby, US soccer star Alex Morgan, Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton and tennis icon Serena Williams.
In total, TMRW Sports announced 26 ‘cultural icon’ investors, which also features the World Surf League’s (WSL) Kanoa Igarashi and professional gamer Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins.
The institutional investment was co-led by Connect Ventures and 25madison Ventures. The likes of Apex Capital, Excel Sports Management and Misfits Gaming Group are also on board.
Business leaders across the sports, finance, as well as media and technology sectors have also got in on the act. On the sporting front, names include Atlanta Falcons owner Artur Blank, Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment (HBSE) co-managing partner David Blitzer and Fenway Sports Group’s (FSG) John Henry.
TMRW Sports was unveiled by Woods and McIlroy in August, with the multiple golf major winners joined by sports industry executive Mike McCarley and broadcasting veteran Dick Ebersol as initial investors. McCarley has been installed as chief executive, with TMRW stating it will look to create ‘progressive approaches’ to sports, media and entertainment.
Plans include TGL, a new golf league in partnership with the PGA Tour that intends to ‘showcase team competitions fusing advanced tech and live action’ from a custom-built venue. Woods and McIlroy are the first two golfers committed to compete and the league’s inaugural season will kick off in January 2024.
TGL will feature six teams of three PGA Tour players in head-to-head, 18-hole match play. The campaign will take place over 15 regular season Monday night matches followed by semi-finals and finals series.
“Over the past year we’ve assembled a team of investors who will help deliver on the TMRW Sports’ mission to positively impact how sports are experienced in the future,” said McCarley. “And we’ve been intentional about diversity of expertise, thought and backgrounds as we mobilised this strategic group co-led by Connect Ventures and 25madison Ventures,
“From the very beginning our plan has been to partner with the best-in-class in every way imaginable and Tiger, Rory, and I value the support of this unrivalled team of investors, advisors, and ambassadors who believe in our vision to harness technology to create progressive approaches to sports.
“Their combined broad reach and cultural relevance will expand potential opportunities and fanbases for TMRW projects. Plus, many share a passion for golf that only adds more fuel to TGL, our first project in partnership with the PGA Tour.”
