The Business of Owning a Sports Team | David Rubenstein

What’s it really like to own a professional sports team? And why is private equity increasingly getting in the game? In this edition of Author Talks, McKinsey Global Publishing’s Raju Narisetti chats with David M. Rubenstein, owner of the Baltimore Orioles and cofounder and cochair of the Carlyle Group, a global investment management firm, about _Inside the Owner’s Box: Conversations on Power and Leadership in Sports._ Through discussions with leading team owners and insights from his own experience, Rubenstein reveals the financial forces reshaping professional sports and the leadership decisions that can determine a franchise’s success. He examines why investors increasingly see teams as valuable assets, as well as how competitive performance, culture, and community shape the ownership experience. *Chapters:* 00:00 – Intro 00:12 – How owning a sports team differs from owning a business 03:38 – Why private equity is investing in sports teams 06:12 – What can owners do about player injuries? 09:15 – How AI is changing sports analytics 09:59 – Why business talent is moving into professional sports 11:27 – The future of the fan experience 13:49 – How owners shape team culture 15:59 – Tension between big and small city team owners 17:38 – The future of the Baltimore Orioles and the MLB 19:05 – How owning the Orioles changed Rubenstein 20:18 – How sports can bring communities together 21:08 – The opportunity in cricket Subscribe to our channel: http://mck.co/YouTube Subscribe to our newsletters: http://mck.co/Subscribe *Find us on:* Facebook: http://mck.co/Facebook Twitter: http://mck.co/Twitter LinkedIn: http://mck.co/LinkedIn Instagram: http://mck.co/Instagram See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information. _Comments and opinions expressed by interviewees are their own and do not represent or reflect the opinions, policies, or positions of McKinsey & Company or have its endorsement._