Former Saints player launches $500-share sports investment fund

A retired New Orleans Saints receiver and a former mixed martial artist have started an investment fund that sells shares for a minimum of $500. The fund aims to give retail investors exposure to professional sports teams, sports technology, stadium-area real estate, and other private deals, including a stake in the English soccer club Ipswich Town.

The two founders said the idea grew from the observation that fans and players create value for the sports industry but hold no ownership. They structured the fund as an interval fund that pools money across several asset buckets rather than betting on any single team.

Fund structure and costs Investors receive one share of the overall portfolio.

Because the holdings are private, the fund values them at estimated fair value approved by its board. The prospectus lists total annual expenses of 5.75 percent, which includes a 2.9 percent management fee paid in part to a fintech firm called Sweater.

The fund will offer to repurchase shares twice a year, with the first window scheduled for August 2027. It is obligated to buy back only 5 percent of shares at each window, and the prospectus states the investment is illiquid and intended for investors who can leave money untouched for an extended period.

Industry context The four major U.S. professional leagues are valued at nearly $500 billion combined, with the average NFL team worth about $7 billion. By August 2025 nearly one in five teams across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL had some private-equity backing, according to a J.P. Morgan Asset Management note.

The founders said the fund offers an alternative to sports betting. One founder stated that instead of placing $500 on a parlay, an investor can obtain ownership in a diversified sports portfolio.