Ares Management is preparing to expand its sports investment strategy into Europe with a new sports, media, and entertainment opportunities fund targeting wealthy individuals, according to Bloomberg sources.

The vehicle, expected to launch later this year, will provide debt and equity financing to sports leagues, teams, sports-related businesses, and media companies.

The move marks a further step in Ares’ broader expansion into private wealth. The firm oversees approximately $623bn and currently manages around $66bn in products for wealthy investors. It aims to increase that figure to $125bn over the next two years.

Ares formalised its sports strategy during the pandemic and closed its first dedicated institutional sports fund at $3.7bn in 2022. In 2024, it began raising capital for a US-focused sports vehicle targeting individuals.

As of end-2025, that US strategy had invested across 106 portfolio companies with a fair value of $589m in equity and senior secured loans.

The firm has deployed capital into assets including Chelsea FC, the Miami Dolphins, and the Kylian Mbappé-backed France SailGP team.

Recent exits underscore the scale of the strategy. Ares sold its investment in McLaren at a valuation of about $5bn and divested the majority of its stake in Atlético de Madrid in a transaction valuing the club at approximately $2.95bn, including debt.

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