Sportsology Capital Partners, a private equity firm co-founded by Mike Forde, has acquired a minority ownership stake in the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball franchise. This deal, finalized on Monday, marks Sportsology’s first investment in a top-tier U.S. sports league and follows about 18 months of negotiations.
Details of the Investment and Ownership Structure
Financial details of the acquisition and the identity of sellers were not disclosed. The Texas Rangers’ majority owner remains Ray Davis. Earlier stages of discussions involved another investment firm, Ares, but they did not participate in the final transaction. Sportsology and Ares had previously jointly invested in France’s SailGP sailing team last year.
Comments from Leadership and Background on the Deal
Mike Forde, co-founder of Sportsology and former head of football operations at Chelsea FC, expressed enthusiasm about joining the ownership team.
“We’re very privileged to be part of the ownership group,”
Forde said.
This is a great group of people with a tremendous track record of success.
Rangers’ Valuation and Market Context
The Rangers, who secured their first World Series championship in 2023, have a valuation that was not made public for this deal. According to Sportico, the franchise was valued at $2.47 billion in 2025, slightly below the MLB average of $2.8 billion per team.
Sportsology’s Fund Strategy and Future Plans
This purchase represents the second investment from Sportsology’s upcoming debut fund, which is currently seeking approximately $500 million from institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals like Joe Pastora and Garrick Patterson. The firm intends to invest primarily in the top five U.S. sports leagues, including MLS, targeting minority stakes in teams as well as related media and entertainment companies. The fund is expected to complete fewer than 10 deals and is not focused on sports technology investments.
Private Equity Trends in Professional Sports
John Carroll, co-founder of Sportsology Capital and a former partner with Willowridge Partners, noted that private equity involvement in major U.S. sports leagues has become more common since league restrictions began relaxing in 2019. He added that while the investment sector is still developing, early investments from five to six years ago have performed well.
“Obviously, the sector is developing, but I wouldn’t say it’s a fully mature market,”
Carroll said.
If you look at the investments done five to six years ago, they have done well.
Advisors Supporting the Acquisition
Financial guidance for Sportsology was provided by Marcus Lollie of Moelis, and Michael Kuh, a partner at Hogan Lovells, served as the legal advisor for the transaction.
