{"id":730676,"date":"2026-04-15T22:16:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T22:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/730676\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T22:16:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T22:16:23","slug":"tpg-to-acquire-dallas-based-learfield-a-leading-college-sports-media-and-tech-provider-dallas-innovates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/730676\/","title":{"rendered":"TPG to Acquire Dallas-Based Learfield, a\u00a0Leading College Sports Media and Tech Provider \u00bb Dallas Innovates"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Cole Gahagan, president and CEO of LEARFIELD [Photo: LEARFIELD]<\/p>\n

TPG, a global alternative asset management firm based in Fort Worth and San Francisco, is acquiring Dallas-based Learfield, a media and tech company that serves as a \u201cmonetization engine\u201d for collegiate sports intellectual property.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Learfield is one of the largest at-scale commercial platforms in global sports, TPG said, linking more than 12,000 brands and over 1,200 institutions with an integrated suite of sponsorship and media solutions, ticketing technology, licensing management, name, image, and likeness (NIL) strategy, and AI-enabled data platforming.<\/p>\n

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.<\/p>\n

Learfield\u2019s solutions are powered by a proprietary dataset informed by more than 125 million fan records, TPG noted. The company serves NCAA Division I institutions and the majority of institutions across the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC conferences.<\/p>\n

Cole Gahagan, Learfield\u2019s president and CEO, said his company is \u201creshaping the future of collegiate athletics and live entertainment, uniting fans, brands, athletes, and universities, and growing our partners\u2019 revenues at unprecedented levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs commercialization trends give rise to new IP-based opportunities,\u201d he added in a statement, \u201cwe\u2019re excited to partner with TPG to continue investing in data, media, technology, and the creative solutions that power fan engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Investing through TPG Capital and TPG Sports<\/p>\n

TPG said the partnership will provide Learfield with additional capital and resources to accelerate growth and innovation across its integrated platform, including sports sponsorships, ticketing (Paciolan), website and mobile app (SIDEARM Sports), and licensed merchandise division (CLC).<\/p>\n

TPG is investing in Learfield through TPG Capital, the firm\u2019s U.S. and European private equity platform, and TPG Sports<\/a>, the firm\u2019s dedicated investing business focused on partnering with leading companies and platforms shaping the future of sports.<\/p>\n

TPG Partner Peter McGoohan said Learfield\u2019s platform \u201cis catalyzing the growth of college sports by connecting thousands of premier brands to leading athletic programs, facilitating unique monetization opportunities for institutions while connecting sponsors to loyal fan bases nationwide.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kris Wong, another TPG partner, said Learfield\u2019s \u201cdeep network and quality offering\u201d has positioned the company as a trusted partner to colleges across the country.<\/p>\n

More on the deal<\/p>\n

Charlesbank Capital Partners will remain a minority investor in Learfield and continue its long-standing partnership with the company, TPG said. Learfield\u2019s other investors will exit their stakes as part of the transaction, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary approvals and closing conditions.<\/p>\n

Evercore acted as lead financial advisor to TPG. The Raine Group also acted as financial advisor to the firm. Ropes & Gray LLP and Mintz served as legal counsel to TPG. Moelis & Co LLC acted as the lead financial advisor to Learfield, and BofA Securities also acted as financial advisor to the company. Davis Polk served as the company\u2019s legal counsel.<\/p>\n

More on TPG<\/p>\n

TPG one of the nation\u2019s leading private equity investors in media, entertainment, and sports, with investments that have included Creative Artists Agency, Entertainment Partners, DIRECTV, Fandom, Musixmatch, Spotify, and Troon, among others.<\/p>\n

In 2025, TPG launched TPG Sports<\/a> in partnership with Rory McIlroy, Sean O\u2019Flaherty, and their team at Symphony Ventures to bring the firm\u2019s signature transformation-oriented private equity approach\u201d to sports investing.<\/p>\n

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\tR E A D\u00a0\u00a0 N E X T\t<\/p>\n