Alessio Santosuosso, Giulia Carnevale
Apr 14, 2025
Key people and transactions shaping the Sports industry
Welcome to our April 14, 2025 edition of the TOP 5 Sports Business News, according to CUBOPRO - your premier source for the latest developments in the sports industry. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of sports business, we are committed to providing you with short while insightful analysis of the most impactful events shaping our sector.
Here are the TOP 5 news of the week according to us:
1. Movistar Pro Cycling Team Lands Quantum Pacific Investment
Movistar Team, managed by Abarca Sports, has secured a major boost with Quantum Pacific acquiring a 43% minority stake in Abarca Sports.
This deal brings significant capital and new sponsorship from Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), a Quantum Pacific affiliate, whose logo will now feature on all team jerseys.
EPS, with a fleet of 201 ships, adds global scale to the partnership.
The investment strengthens Movistar’s men’s, women’s, gravel, and e-sports teams, providing resources to compete with the best-funded WorldTour squads.
Quantum Pacific, which also owns stakes in Atlético de Madrid, positions Movistar for greater international growth and commercial opportunities.
2. Topgolf Founders Raise US$34m for Poolhouse Interactive Pool Venues
The founders of Topgolf have successfully raised US$34 million to launch Poolhouse, a new chain of interactive pool venues.
Poolhouse aims to blend technology, hospitality, and social gaming, offering a modern twist on the traditional pool hall experience.
The funding round attracted a mix of sports, entertainment, and tech investors, reflecting the ongoing trend of experiential sports venues that cater to younger, digitally savvy audiences.
This move underscores the continued evolution of sports entertainment and the growing appetite for immersive, tech-driven leisure experiences.
3. Virat Kohli Rejects ‘US$35m’ Puma Extension to Sign with Indian Startup Agilitas
Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli has declined a lucrative US$35 million contract extension from Puma, choosing instead to partner with and invest in Indian sportswear startup Agilitas Sports.
Kohli, who has been associated with Puma since 2017, will now collaborate with Agilitas to expand his One8 lifestyle and sportswear brand, aiming to reach over 1,000 retail outlets across India within the next three years.
As part of the deal, Kohli will take an equity stake in Agilitas, which was founded by former Puma India managing director Abhishek Ganguly and recently raised US$52 million in funding.
The partnership will focus on developing performance and athleisure products tailored for Indian consumers, leveraging Kohli’s brand power and Agilitas’s manufacturing and distribution capabilities.
This move signals a major shift in India’s sportswear market, with Kohli betting on the growth of homegrown brands and athlete-led business ventures.
The collaboration is expected to accelerate Agilitas’s ambition to become a leading player in the Indian and global sportswear industry.
4. Luka Modric Purchases Minority Stake in Swansea City
Real Madrid and Croatia legend Luka Modric has purchased a minority stake in Championship club Swansea City, marking his first move into football club ownership.
The 39-year-old midfielder, whose contract at Real Madrid runs until mid-2025, joins the club’s American-led ownership group alongside Andy Coleman, Brett Cravatt, Nigel Morris, and Jason Cohen.
Modric’s investment comes as Swansea City reported a pre-tax loss of £15.2 million for the financial year ending June 2024, an improvement from the previous year’s £17.9 million loss, with turnover at £21.5 million.
The club, currently 12th in the Championship with 54 points, continues to face financial challenges and relies on its ownership group for support as it aims for a return to the Premier League.
Modric expressed excitement about the opportunity, stating, “Swansea has a strong identity, an incredible fanbase, and the ambition to compete at the highest level. Playing at the highest level, I believe I can provide my experience to the club. My goal is to support the club’s growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future”.
Swansea’s board and chief executive Tom Gorringe welcomed Modric, highlighting his role as a model for players and his alignment with the club’s ambitions.
5. Sephora Continues Women’s Basketball Push with Golden State Valkyries Deal
Sephora has signed a multi-year founding partnership with the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s newest franchise, furthering its commitment to women’s basketball.
As part of the agreement, Sephora secures naming rights to the team’s new 31,800-square-foot Oakland-based training facility, now called the “Sephora Performance Center.”
The state-of-the-art center features three professional-grade basketball courts, locker rooms, strength and conditioning areas, recovery zones, and a player lounge, all with Sephora-branded elements.
Sephora’s logo will also appear on the Valkyries’ practice jerseys throughout their inaugural season.
Beyond the facility, the partnership includes presenting sponsorship of the Valkyries’ Content Day and Training Camp, as well as exclusive digital content initiatives.
Fans will gain behind-the-scenes access through a dedicated season-long content series on the team’s digital and social channels. In addition, Sephora-branded activations will be visible at the Chase Center, including a Sephora Kiosk for beauty product purchases and a Sephora Sounds DJ booth supporting emerging artists.
Sephora joins CarMax, JPMorgan Chase, and Kaiser Permanente as founding partners, marking a significant milestone for women’s sports and the Valkyries’ debut in the 2025 WNBA season.
These developments represent significant shifts in the sports business ecosystem, each with the potential to create new opportunities and challenges. We encourage our clients to consider the strategic implications of these trends on their portfolios and long-term business strategies.
As always, our team stands ready to provide in-depth analysis and tailored advice to help you navigate these exciting changes in the sports business landscape.
If you have questions or would like to discuss about this issue of the newsletter, please feel free to reach out at connect@cubopro.com.
We thank you for reading today.
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Best,
Team CUBOPRO