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We provide comprehensive financing solutions for individual owners, teams and leagues.

A growing number of the world’s wealthiest individuals and families have contemplated sports as an asset class in which to invest, albeit a highly specialized one.

If you invest in sports, a strategic banking partner is key to success both on and off the field.

For more than twenty-five years, we have partnered with professional sports teams, leagues, owners and investors, providing consultative advice, liquidity solutions, and investment opportunities as their needs evolve.

We offer both team and league-level financing for acquisition, general corporate and working capital needs, as well as the construction and renovation of stadiums and arenas.

Our treasury management solutions help manage day-to-day finance operations, arena concessions and ticketing, payroll and health benefits, social media and network, foundation and community development needs, and more.

Among our clients are numerous prominent professional sports teams and owners.

We also serve professional sports leagues, including the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and the National Football League.

As the global sports industry continues to grow, we are proud to be a teammate of many of its leading investors.

For over two decades, Citi has partnered with sports teams, leagues, owners and investors worldwide, providing consultative advice and financial strategies to support their evolving needs.

John Farley
Head of Sports Finance - North America

How we serve you

Bespoke solutions
Currently, we have over $1.5 billion in commitments across the four major North American sports leagues.

We provide team and league clients access to both the bank and institutional private placement markets, as well as advice on municipal financing solutions.

Clients have access to a range of traditional and alternative investments and global capital markets, including FX services for international needs and hedging strategies.

Buy-and-sell side advisory services
Our expertise, insights, and connections can assist your strategic positioning every step of the way.

Citi offers a range of services to help teams simplify and streamline the buying and selling process.

In addition to traditional advisory services, we can help teams analyze and identify regional sports network and national media rights opportunities.

Institutional connections
Backed by the global resources and depth of Citi, we partner with our colleagues beyond the Private Bank to provide investment banking solutions, venue construction financing, and introductions to potential buyers and sellers worldwide.

We are well versed in league governance and approval processes, as well as implementing acceptable ownership structures and efficient capital structures.

Meet our people

Jonathan Farley

Head of Sports Finance
North America
For over two decades, Citi has partnered with sports teams, leagues, owners and investors worldwide, providing consultative advice and financial strategies to support their evolving needs.

Jon oversees our offering of financing solutions to professional sports teams and leagues. 

Jon has over 19 years of experience in the sports finance business. He joined Citi Private Bank’s Sports Finance team in 2007.

Prior to Citi, Jon held roles at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in project finance and as the Head of the Government and Public/Private Infrastructure Finance group.

He began his career at White & Case as a corporate paralegal and later worked at Banc of America Securities in healthcare corporate finance.

Jon holds a bachelor’s in political science from Haverford College and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Jonathan Farley

Head of Sports Finance,
North America
For over two decades, Citi has partnered with sports teams, leagues, owners and investors worldwide, providing consultative advice and financial strategies to support their evolving needs.

See more of the insights we offer you by exploring our brochures.

Treasury Management Solutions for Professional Sports Teams

A strategic banking partner is key to a professional sports team’s success on — and off — the field.
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