Intelligence Output

INTELLIGENCE BRIEFS

Commercial intelligence on the business of sport. Every brief is free and open to read.

The Intelligence

The Way Sports Sponsorship Is Valued Is Fundamentally Broken

25 May 2026 · 5 min read

Most sponsorship valuations are built on media equivalency metrics that measure the wrong thing, in the wrong context, for the wrong buyer. The brands that understand this are making better deals.

THE INTELLIGENCE

Saudi Arabia Is Not Buying Derby County. It Is Buying English Football Distribution.

25 May 2026 · 5 min read

The Derby County approach is not about Premier League ambition. It is about securing undervalued broadcast inventory, stadium infrastructure, and fan data assets across secondary European markets where acquisition costs remain low and regulatory barriers are weaker than at elite level.

Deal Flow

Saudi Arabia Is Not Buying Sport. It Is Building Commercial Infrastructure.

25 May 2026 · 5 min read

The framing of Saudi sports investment as 'sportswashing' misses what is actually happening commercially. PIF is executing a vertically integrated sports economy build. The distinction matters for anyone doing business in the region.

The Underdog

Cricket Has 2.5 Billion Fans and a Fractured Commercial Model. The Gap Is the Opportunity.

25 May 2026 · 6 min read

Cricket is the second most watched sport in the world. Its commercial revenues sit nowhere near that position. Understanding why reveals the most underleveraged opportunity in global sports.

The Intelligence

IPL Franchise Valuations Cross $1BN: What the Numbers Actually Mean

25 May 2026 · 4 min read

The latest franchise valuation reports put all ten IPL teams above the $1BN mark. The headline is compelling. The commercial reality beneath it is more complex — and more instructive.

Deal Flow

Women's Sport Is at a Commercial Inflection Point. The Window Will Not Stay Open.

25 May 2026 · 5 min read

The commercial case for women's sport has shifted from 'values play' to genuine revenue opportunity in the past three years. The brands and rights holders moving now are capturing ground that will be significantly more expensive to buy in 2027.