From American football to high-speed sailing, Tisch-backed Next 3 doubles down on the future of sport with its latest investment in SailGP’s U.S. franchise.
In a significant move that underlines the shifting dynamics of modern sports ownership, Next 3—the investment platform founded by Carolyn Tisch Blodgett and supported by members of the Tisch family, co-owners of the NFL’s New York Giants—has acquired a stake in the U.S. team of SailGP, the high-adrenaline, global sailing league.
This marks Next 3’s debut investment in an international sports property and further expands its growing portfolio of forward-facing sports ventures. The firm already holds equity in a number of cutting-edge initiatives including TMRW Sports (the tech-infused golf league launched by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy), NWSL side Gotham FC, Los Angeles Golf Club, and League One Volleyball (LOVB).
Why SailGP—and Why Now?
SailGP is not your traditional sporting property. Founded in 2019 by Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Olympic sailing legend Russell Coutts, the series features 12 national teams racing identical F50 foiling catamarans—high-performance vessels that hit speeds of 60 mph. With mixed-gender teams, elite technology, and a growing broadcast footprint across more than 200 countries, SailGP presents a product that is both radically innovative and inherently global.
For Tisch Blodgett, the decision to invest wasn’t just about diversification. It was about identifying a property that embodies where sport is going—fast-paced, media-optimized, and globally resonant.
“We view SailGP as a future-facing league that’s already delivering on the promise of what sport can be—dynamic, inclusive, and tailored to a new generation of fans,” she shared.
At a recent race in New York City, Next 3 executives were impressed by the electric atmosphere, urban shoreline viewing, and streamlined live experience—one that mirrors the entertainment-first logic being adopted by other progressive leagues across the world.
A TV-First League That Understands the Moment
What sets SailGP apart is its aggressive focus on media delivery. From short-form content optimized for digital platforms to immersive real-time data visualizations powered by military-grade GPS, it’s designed to be watched, shared, and understood by a generation that doesn’t sit through three-hour matches.
“We didn’t have to spend decades growing bit by bit,” said Mike Buckley, co-owner and CEO of the U.S. SailGP team. “Thanks to the founders’ vision, SailGP was launched at full speed. It’s a media product that just happens to be a sport.”
In a landscape where fan attention is fragmented, SailGP’s immersive format offers a different kind of viewing: fast, digital-native, and experiential.
Diverse Investors. Unified Vision.
While the specific financial details of Next 3’s investment remain confidential, the move places it alongside an eclectic group of investors—from finance mogul Marc Lasry to DJ Gryffin, Deontay Wilder, Gary Vaynerchuk, Issa Rae, and active NFL stars like DeAndre Hopkins and Roquan Smith.
Sponsorship has followed suit, with brands like Red Bull, Amazon, Tommy Hilfiger, AG1, and T-Mobile joining the party—aligning themselves with the league’s modern ethos and global outlook.
According to Buckley, building a diverse investor group was intentional: “We didn’t want just one type of thinking around the table. What Next 3 brings from their experience in the NFL, in women’s soccer, and in TMRW Sports is incredibly valuable for us to scale in smart, sustainable ways.”
Celebrity-Backed Ownership and Valuation Surge
SailGP has rapidly become a magnet for celebrity investment. Just this summer, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman took over the Australian franchise, while the Italy team was acquired at a $45 million valuation by a group led by Muse Capital’s Assia Grazioli-Venier and including Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway. Ares Management has also backed the French team.
According to SailGP Managing Director Andy Thompson, franchise valuations are now exceeding $50 million, with further team sales and expansion planned into 2026.
For a league barely six years old, that signals rapid commercial maturation—and investor belief in its long-term potential.
Strategic Insight from Next 3
Tisch Blodgett is clear: Next 3 does not just write checks. It enters deals where it can add meaningful strategic value.
“We ask ourselves one core question—what value can we bring beyond capital? If we can’t clearly define our role on the cap table, we don’t proceed.”
With its hybrid of sports, entertainment, and media, SailGP appears to offer the perfect terrain for the kind of brand-building and cross-sectoral thinking that Next 3 thrives on.
365247 Media Analysis:
SailGP is a fascinating case study in the emergence of what we call performance entertainment properties—where competition, content, and consumer experience converge. Next 3’s entry into this space is not just a bet on sailing; it’s a statement on where the future of sports lies: global formats, diverse ownership groups, and leagues built for media consumption, not just matchday tradition.
As legacy sports institutions reckon with stagnation, properties like SailGP are writing the blueprint for the next generation of fan engagement—and Next 3 is positioning itself right at the helm.
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IMAGE: Sail GP
