Alibaba chairman's family office gears up for more sports investing

Marcus Baram
Author Marcus Baram

Marcus Baram is a contributing editor at Crain Currency, where he covers the intersection of finance and politics. Prior to joining Crain Currency, Baram was a staff writer at Fast Company and an editor at Huff Post. He has also written for outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Vice. Baram is an expert on economic policy and has a deep understanding of the ways in which politics shapes the global financial system. In his role at Crain Currency, he brings a unique perspective to the complex and ever-evolving world of finance. With his keen analysis and clear writing, Baram helps readers make sense of the important issues impacting the economy today.

Apr 18, 2024
9 months ago
Joe_Tsai

Blue Pool Capital, the Hong Kong-based family office of Alibaba co-founder and Chairman Joe Tsai, seeks to get more into sports investing due to the spiking global interest in live sports events and heightened growth in media rights.

“When I think about my marginal dollar today, sports is at the top of the list,” CEO Oliver Weisberg told AsianInvestor. “Sports has become an actual asset class now.” 

Tsai, who went to high school in New Jersey and played lacrosse and football, was one of the first Asian investors in sports franchises. Currently, he’s the owner of the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association and its home arena, Barclays Center, buying them for $3.5 billion in 2019.

Through his sports investment firm J Tsai Sports, he also has stakes in the WNBA’s New York Liberty, the National Lacrosse League’s San Diego Seals and Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer.

The appeal of sports investing lies in its multivaried resources stream, from ticket sales to media rights to sports paraphernalia.

Blue Pool Capital also has investments in technology, media, telecom and the consumer sector.

Marcus Baram
Author Marcus Baram

Marcus Baram is a contributing editor at Crain Currency, where he covers the intersection of finance and politics. Prior to joining Crain Currency, Baram was a staff writer at Fast Company and an editor at Huff Post. He has also written for outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Vice. Baram is an expert on economic policy and has a deep understanding of the ways in which politics shapes the global financial system. In his role at Crain Currency, he brings a unique perspective to the complex and ever-evolving world of finance. With his keen analysis and clear writing, Baram helps readers make sense of the important issues impacting the economy today.