Table of Contents

• Red Bull takes minority ownership stake in Leeds U …

• The business of elite athletes: Strategies of high …

• Top Tickers

• New basketball league Unrivaled aims to pay highes …

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Red Bull takes minority ownership stake in Leeds United

Strategic partnership will see Red Bull become the official shirt sponsor for the upcoming season

The deal, orchestrated by 49ers Enterprises, the private equity arm of the San Francisco 49ers NFL franchise, is set to bolster Leeds United's competitive edge. Despite the recent setback in the Championship play-off final against Southampton, Leeds Chairman Paraag Marathe views this collaboration as a "historic milestone" that promises to unlock the club's full potential.

Red Bull's CEO of corporate projects and investments, Oliver Mintzlaff, expressed their ambition to "bring Leeds back to the Premier League" and establish a strong presence in one of the world's most competitive football leagues. While the partnership will not alter Leeds United's identity or management structure, it signifies a substantial financial boost, replacing the existing shirt sponsor, BOXT, with a more lucrative agreement.

This move is part of the 49ers' broader strategy to expand their investment pool, which recently saw Hollywood actor Will Ferrell join as an investor. With Red Bull's extensive experience in sports sponsorship and team ownership, this collaboration is poised to elevate Leeds United's stature both on and off the field.

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The business of elite athletes: Strategies of high-profile sports stars beyond sports

How elite athletes, like Mohamed Salah, diversify their income streams through endorsements, personal branding, and strategic investments

High-profile athletes, like Mo Salah or David Beckham, leverage their sporting success to build extensive business portfolios, establishing themselves as global brands.

As announced on Monday, AliExpress, Alibaba’s international e-commerce platform, has signed soccer star David Beckham as its global brand ambassador. This partnership marks the platform’s most significant global ambassador deal to date. David’s involvement comes as AliExpress joins other Chinese companies in sponsoring the UEFA European Soccer Championship, which begins mid-June.

Mo’s football salary, estimated between £18-21 million annually, is just the foundation of his business beyond sports. Through high-profile endorsements with global brands such as Adidas, Pepsi, and Vodafone, he earns an additional £3.5-6 million per contract annually. His cultural ties to the Arab world amplify his brand’s reach, making him a key figure for companies targeting these markets.

Moreover, Mo’s ventures extend into personal businesses and investments. His company, Salah UK Commercial Limited, manages his off-field income efficiently, reflecting a balance sheet of over £25 million. Such strategic financial management ensures long-term stability and growth beyond his playing career.

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New basketball league Unrivaled aims to pay highest average salary in women’s pro league sports

Star-studded investor lineup includes former ESPN president John Skipper, former Warner Bros. CEO Ann Sarnoff, as well as athletes including Megan Rapinoe or Steve Nash

Unrivaled, the new pro women’s basketball league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, has closed a round of funding from sports and media investors. The lengthy list of investors include media executives such as former ESPN president John Skipper, ex-Turner president David Levy, and former Warner Bros. CEO Ann Sarnoff, as well athletes including NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony and others who invested through the venture capital firm led by U.S women’s national soccer team captain Alex Morgan.

“I believe it’s a good investment … that David and I and the other group of investors have the chance to be on the ground floor of something that I think is going to be quite impactful,” said Skipper, who is also the co-founder of Meadowlark Media. “It’s a rare opportunity where we can create something … and don’t need to disrupt something else.”

The league, which will have a new format and is expected to launch in January, said it will offer its players equity in the league, and the highest average salary in women’s pro sports league history.

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The French Open is currently taking place in Paris. Jannik Sinner, the winner of the Australian Open, gave an interview worth reading before the start of the tournament:

“I’m always trying to learn from my losses and that was a tough one,” he says. “My mindset was not great and I promised myself this attitude won’t happen again. It was time to try my best with a smile. There is pressure, obviously, but pressure is a privilege.”

“There were too many ups and downs, emotionally. It can happen – you play one set good, one set bad – especially on clay. But I was not happy on court and without reason. My team said: ‘Why do you have this attitude?’ They were right and I’ve always believed that if you want to improve you have to accept what you’ve done wrong.”

“Tennis started off as my hobby and now it’s my job. But it’s important I still play like it’s my hobby. It’s impossible to always be positive. You have so many moments where you have negatives, but you have to find a way to get out of it. The more you play, the easier it is…”

Feel free to enjoy the rest of the day as much as possible!

Irg

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