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College Athletics Opens the Uniform as Commercial Infrastructure
Sports are moving quickly, and the people who understand why it’s moving will be the ones who lead it next. The Constant Sports Report exists to help founders, operators, and future executives see around corners, not just read headlines.
Conner Schenk
February 17, 2026
The Lead Story
The Commercialization of College Sports Has Officially Begun
LSU’s all-sports jersey patch deal marks a structural pivot in NCAA monetization.
As college programs begin treating assets like inventory, not tradition,data-driven performance and valuation intelligence become critical. From NIL strategy to sponsorship optimization, institutions need clarity on what assets are worth and how to deploy them.
Modern sports are being built on capital, commercialization, and performance infrastructure.
Presented by: MASS
Constant Sports is a media-driven platform and private community connecting founders, investors, operators, and emerging talent building and working in the next era of sports and entertainment.
Investment, M&A & Capital Flows
Sportsology Capital Partners Secures Rangers Stake
New entrants are proving they can compete in team-level PE deals alongside mega-firms like KKR and Apollo. This signals that sports ownership is expanding beyond legacy family offices into structured capital platforms. (LINK)
KKR Acquires Arctos for $1.4B
This is private equity consolidating the consolidators. Arctos helped define minority stake investing in pro teams — now KKR brings scale, global LP access, and cross-sector leverage to the model. (LINK)
Doug DeVos’ American Magic Buys SailGP Danish Team for $60M
SailGP franchises are becoming tradable, price-discovered assets. The league’s team ownership structure is quietly maturing into something much more institutional. (LINK)
Otro Capital Closes $1.2B Debut Fund (Target Was $500M)
Oversubscribed by more than 2x, this signals deep LP appetite for operationally-driven sports investing. Sports funds with league-level experience are in demand. (LINK)
CVC’s Global Sports Group Builds Post-Spin Portfolio
From La Liga to equestrian verticals, CVC is applying a WWE-style integration playbook: own rights, scale events, professionalize operations, monetize globally. (LINK)
Sphere Crushes Earnings Estimates
Premium live entertainment venues continue to outperform. Scarcity + spectacle + pricing power is a potent combination in the live experience economy. (LINK)
Sports Tech & Performance
Juventus Forward Unveils Startup Cohort
Elite clubs are formalizing innovation pipelines. This isn’t PR, it’s competitive infrastructure. (LINK)
PIF-Backed Humain Acquires ai.io
Saudi-backed AI capital continues building scouting and development infrastructure. AI-driven player identification is becoming a geopolitical investment priority. (LINK)
MLB Adjusts Strike-Zone Box to Prevent ABS Exploits
Broadcast graphics now impact competitive fairness. Technology decisions in production rooms have on-field consequences. (LINK)
Oura x Mira Partnership & Clair Hormone Monitoring Wearable
Women’s health tracking is shifting from lifestyle to performance-grade biometrics. Expect this category to become foundational across elite programs. (LINK)
If you’re trying to break into the sports industry or you’re already operating in it, The Constant Sports Community is where founders, students, operators, and investors connect, learn, share deals, and level up.
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Sports Media & Current Events
MSG Sports Offsets $22M RSN Decline with NBA Media Deal
National rights are stabilizing local exposure erosion. Revenue mix in pro sports is tilting away from local RSNs toward centralized distribution. (LINK)
YouTube TV Launches Sports Skinny Bundle
The re-bundling era is here. Sports is being packaged into tiered verticals, and leagues must prove they’re “must-carry.” (LINK)
Tigers & Red Wings Move to MLB Media Platform
League-level distribution platforms are becoming the backbone for teams navigating RSN instability. (LINK)
MLS + Apple Enter “Version 2.0” Phase
Early experimentation is over. Now comes negotiation complexity, subscription optimization, and long-term rights recalibration. (LINK)
The CW Gains NASCAR Ad Sales Momentum
Challenger networks can win with the right positioning in fragmented ecosystems. CW has found great success with NASCAR. (LINK)
Sponsorship, Marketing & Brand Strategy
LSU Lands First-of-Its-Kind All-Sports Jersey Patch Deal (Woodside Energy)
College uniform inventory is now monetized at scale. This is the commercialization tipping point for NCAA athletics. (LINK)
UFL Signs New Era, Adidas & Nobull
League credibility is built through uniform and equipment partnerships. Brand stack matters. (LINK)
Klay Thompson Extends with Anta Beyond Playing Career
Long-term athlete-brand partnerships signal global footwear competition is intensifying.(LINK)
Alabama Posts $33M Surplus Ahead of House Settlement
Top-tier programs are building financial war chests. The resource gap in college sports continues widening. (LINK)
DraftKings Misses Forecast, Stock Drops
Growth is no longer enough. Profit path and capital discipline now define betting platform valuations. (LINK)
Constant Sports Podcast
Athletes spend years mastering performance. But what happens when the game ends? This week on The Constant Sports Podcast, we sit down with Steven Sgroi, founder of Franthlete, to break down one of the most overlooked wealth strategies in sports: Franchise ownership.
Steven Breaks Down:
• Why athletes are naturally wired for business ownership
• The difference between brand ambassador income and equity ownership
• The biggest misconceptions about franchising
• How to evaluate franchise opportunities step-by-step
• Financing options for first-time owners
• How NIL and athlete branding intersect with franchise strategy
• What separates successful owners from those who struggle
If you’re trying to break into the sports industry or you’re already operating in it, the Constant Sports Community is where founders, students, operators, and investors connect, learn, share deals, and level up.
Join here: https://www.constantsportsco.com/