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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Business
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett

Why are there so few Black team owners in US professional sports?

Former WNBA player Renee Montgomery recently became part owner of the Atlanta Dream franchise. She belongs to a tiny group of US sports stakeholders who are Black.
Former WNBA player Renee Montgomery recently became part owner of the Atlanta Dream franchise. She belongs to a tiny group of US sports stakeholders who are Black. Illustration: Heather Polk/The Guardian

As billionaire flexes go, owning a major sports franchise is hard to beat. You get to prance around in the owner’s suite and host dignitaries and celebrities who gush over your prized possession, all the while watching your investment sprout revenue like a magical beanstalk. Team owners cash in on television rights (ka-ching!), ticket sales (ka-ching!), licensing fees (ka-ching!) and sponsorship deals (ka-ching!).

But the most profitable moment for any sports franchise owner is when their team is up for sale. That’s when other billionaires swarm in, hoping to join one of the most exclusive clubs in the world (ka-ching-a-ding-ding!).

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