In a landmark move for the firm, Sportsology Capital Partners (SCP) has officially entered the major U.S. sports landscape by acquiring a minority stake in the Texas Rangers. The deal, which closed on Monday, February 9, 2026, marks the private equity firm’s first investment in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Expanding the Private Equity Playbook
Founded by Mike Forde (former Chelsea FC head of football operations) and John Carroll, Sportsology Capital is currently raising its debut fund with a target of $500 million. The Rangers investment is the second deal for the firm, following their previous venture into the France SailGP team alongside Ares Management and football star Kylian Mbappé.
Key Investment Details:
- Ownership Context: The Rangers remain under the majority ownership of Ray Davis.
- Valuation: While specific terms were undisclosed, the Rangers were valued at $2.47 billion in 2025. This sits slightly below the current MLB average of $2.82 billion.
- Strategic Focus: SCP plans to execute fewer than 10 deals with its first fund, focusing on the “Big Five” U.S. leagues and adjacent media platforms rather than pure sports tech.
The Maturing Sports Market
John Carroll noted that the velocity of transactions in the sports sector has increased since leagues began easing ownership restrictions in 2019.
“The sector is developing, but I wouldn’t say it’s a fully mature market yet,” Carroll stated, suggesting that early investments from five or six years ago are now showing strong performance, encouraging new entrants.