Sam Porter is building one of the most uniquely diversified sports ownership portfolios in the world. As co-owner of Club Necaxa (Liga MX), Club Equidad (Colombian First Division), and the Brooklyn Aces (Major League Pickleball), he’s betting on the global and generational growth of sport as both a cultural force and financial asset.
With previous leadership roles at DC United and Swansea City AFC, and now as a Senior Advisor to Apollo Global Management, Sam brings an unmatched operator’s lens to sports investment strategy. In this episode, he breaks down the real opportunities in emerging leagues, why Liga MX remains an overlooked powerhouse, and how storytelling will shape the next decade of fan engagement. From pickleball to fútbol, it’s a wide-ranging conversation on where the future of ownership is headed.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Sports as an Asset Class
02:42 – Investment Strategies in Professional Sports
05:31 – Exploring Liga MX: A Hidden Gem
10:30 – The Colombian Soccer Landscape
16:14 – The Role of Storytelling in Sports
21:51 – Emerging Sports: The Rise of Pickleball
27:02 – Trends in Women’s Sports Investment
32:15 – International Growth and Fan Behavior
36:48 – Final Reflections on Ownership and Impact