#135 🚀 Lakers Landmark Sale Leads Sports into the $10 Billion Era

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The most expensive sports team sale in history, smashing the previous record set by the Boston Celtics' $6.1 billion sale only in March. We really are entering a new era in sports.

This week's edition leads with another extract from our recent Saudi Report, we explore the significant infrastructure investments being made.

No matter where you look, seems like there's a lot happening in sports right now.

Smart Infrastructure Developments in Saudi Arabia

A last excerpt from the latest Saudi Arabia Sports Business and Tech Report 2025 in partnership with the Sports Investment Forum (SIF).

The digital stadium sector in Saudi Arabia is projected to grow by 20.6% annually between 2025 and 2037, reaching a market value of $191.7 billion, driven by the demand for enhanced fan experiences and efficient stadium operations.

Above is a look at six next-generation stadiums across Saudi Arabia, each designed with advanced sustainability, fan engagement, and immersive tech features aligned with Vision 2030.

From renewable-powered venues in NEOM to holographic displays in Riyadh and mixed-reality fan zones in Jeddah, these developments reflect the Kingdom’s infrastructure-driven approach to sports innovation. The stadiums also integrate technologies like HoloBox, passive cooling, and 4K broadcasting to enhance both live experience and operational efficiency.

Here are the notable companies involved in Saudi Arabia’s Stadium and Infrastructure Development

• Populous (Kansas City, USA): Populous is contributing to the Aramco Stadium and Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium. The firm brings expertise in architecture, interior design, wayfinding, brand activation, landscape architecture, and audiovisual consultancy.
  

• SIS Pitches (Maryport, UK): Tasked with the Aramco Stadium, SIS Pitches is designing and building a hybrid grass pitch featuring the SIS Air Classic vacuum and ventilation system, alongside two natural grass training pitches.
  

• FCC Group (Barcelona, Spain): Involved in the MBS Qiddiya complex, FCC Group applies its capabilities in large-scale infrastructure, civil works, and sustainable urban development.
  

• Besix (Brussels, Belgium): Working on the Aramco Stadium, Besix is delivering structural and engineering works, drawing on its extensive experience with stadium and public venue construction in the Middle East.
  

• WeBuild Group (Milan, Italy): Participating in the NEOM project, WeBuild is managing complex construction elements including transport systems and large-scale civil works, in line with NEOM’s innovation and sustainability goals.

Their World Cup is still almost a decade away, and with bids expected for the 2036 or 2040 Olympics. Means there’s plenty of time for current projects to take shape and for new ones to be added along the way.

Read more on the full report, which you can download for free right here.

✅ Includes:

• Key drivers and trends shaping Saudi Arabia's sport business and tech landscape

• In-depth analysis of government initiatives and Vision 2030 strategy

• Breakdown of global and domestic sport investments and emerging opportunities

⚽ Reach the Decision-Makers of the Global Football Tech Ecosystem

Speaking of the Football World Cup, there's one fast approaching. Which means it's time for us to bring back one of most popular publications: the Football Tech Report - out in August.

Get featured to reach 50,000+ industry professionals and investors, with 2,000+ direct downloads by key decision-makers across clubs, leagues, VCs, and tech companies.

🎯 Ideal for:

• Product launches

• Announcements/ promotion

• Investment updates

• Strategic initiatives

✅ Limited spots. Submit your interest now to secure a feature.

📥Have you downloaded our latest Global Sports Tech Ecosystem Report 2025 yet?

Top News from the World of Sports Tech & Biz

🕶️ Meta and Oakley launched AI-powered smart glasses, expanding Meta’s wearable tech portfolio beyond Ray-Ban.

🎮 RISE Worldwide and BLAST launched Jio BLAST eSports, a new JV to bring global gaming events to India via JioGames.

🏀 The Famous Group produced a mixed reality animation for the Milwaukee Bucks’ pregame telecast.

🎾 Apple Sports added tennis coverage ahead of Wimbledon, expanding its real-time score app.

🎟️ SeatGeek launched ‘Beyond the Seat’ to enhance ticket listings with visuals and premium experience insights.

📺 ESPN opened a new state-of-the-art studio at Disney’s 7 Hudson Square, replacing Seaport Studios.

⚾ Batbox unveiled new immersive baseball tech as part of its transformation into a global sports-tainment brand.

🏍️ Liberty Media secured approval for its €4.3 billion takeover of MotoGP owner, expanding its motorsport portfolio alongside F1.

🏁 Prime Video closed its first exclusive NASCAR Cup Series season with 2.16 million average viewers across five events.

🏅 Intel exited the IOC’s TOP sponsorship program following the expiration of its Olympic agreement.

🏏 The ECB and BCCI aligned to oppose a Saudi-backed global T20 cricket league aiming to challenge existing structures.

📺 Netflix finalized a landmark content deal with French network TF1, paving the way for global broadcast partnerships.

🏅 Malala Yousafzai turned her focus toward gender equality in sports with a new platform to support girls in athletics.

🏀 Mark Walter’s $10 billion Lakers deal moved closer to closing, with comments from Jeanie Buss and Walter on the transition.

🎮 The Esports World Cup revealed a record $70 million prize pool for its 2025 edition, up from 2024.

Money Talks:

💰 The Owl AI, a sports technology company focused on officiating and judging, raised $11 million in seed funding and appointed Google veteran Josh Gwyther as CEO.

💰 Pro Athlete Community, a global education and community platform for current and former professional athletes, raised $7.6 million in Series A funding to expand its platform from Wilmington, Delaware.

💸 Noteefy, a golf reservation platform, secured a multimillion-dollar investment to expand its AI capabilities and platform automation tools. The amount was not disclosed.

💸 NBA star Kevin Durant invested in PSG and is set to advise the club on potential basketball expansion initiatives, including the NBA Europe project.

💸 Dubai-based investor acquired an 8.28% stake in Guild Esports, boosting regional interest in the UK-headquartered esports team. The deal amount was not disclosed.

💸 KICKS CREW, a global sneaker and streetwear platform, received investment from NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade and NBA All-Star D’Angelo Russell to scale operations. The amount was not disclosed.

🤝 Gravyty, an AI-powered engagement company for education, acquired Athlete Network, a platform that helps student-athletes build lifelong alumni connections. Deal terms were not disclosed.

🤝 Playtomic, a Spanish racket sports tech platform, acquired Timp, a health club management startup, to expand its capabilities across wellness and facility operations. The amount was not disclosed.

🤝 Dear Media acquired Obé Fitness, a digital fitness platform founded by former CAA agents. The deal supports Dear Media’s continued push into wellness content.

🤝 WIN Reality, a VR training platform for baseball and softball athletes, acquired Blast Motion, known for motion capture swing analytics, to offer a complete swing development system.

💰 The Buss family sold its controlling stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter, valuing the NBA franchise at $10 billion - the highest valuation ever for a professional sports team.

📺 ESPN renewed its media deal with the Premier Lacrosse League and took an equity stake in the league, deepening its presence in the sport’s future.

Recap from our content archive:

🔙 STX Article: New Leagues and Emerging Formats

✅ STX Monthly: Last month’s sports tech dealflow, in case you missed it.

💪🏽 SportsTech AllStars Recap: Indian Sports Business and Tech Report series.