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Paul Hourigan
Ryan Sports Ventures
Paul Hourigan is a Partner at Ryan Sports Ventures, the sports investment arm of the Chicago-based Ryan family. His role involves backing exceptional leaders in businesses within the sports sector, focusing on technology, properties, and media investments. The firm has a notable portfolio that includes interests in teams like the Chicago Bears and AFC Bournemouth, as well as various sports technology enterprises.123
Background and Experience
- Previous Roles: Before joining Ryan Sports Ventures, Hourigan served as the CEO of Global Rugby. His extensive experience in sports management and investment positions him as a key player in shaping the firm's strategic direction.3
- Education: He graduated from Washington and Lee University, where he was also a soccer player. Additionally, he holds a JD/MBA from Emory University.3
Investment Philosophy
Hourigan emphasizes the importance of partnering with individuals who possess a proven track record of success. He believes that investing in people is crucial to achieving long-term growth in the sports industry. His insights reflect a deep understanding of the evolving landscape of sports media and technology, highlighting sectors like artificial intelligence as areas ripe for investment.23
Current Initiatives
Recently, Ryan Sports Ventures has made headlines for its strategic investments in various sports franchises, including a minority stake in Black Knight Football Club. This move is part of their broader strategy to leverage their expertise in sports technology and innovation to enhance their portfolio's value.12
Hourigan's contributions to discussions about the future of sports investment underscore his commitment to fostering growth and innovation within the industry.
Highlights
I had to wait a few weeks into 2024 to share my predictions just to make sure they were accurate 😂, but here are my thoughts on what this year holds for the sports, media and entertainment landscape…
Very honored to be featured in this Sports Loft article alongside such influential minds (and friends) within the sports investment ecosystem like Jasmine Robinson Konrad von Moltke and Anthony Bontrager
A fairly monumental day for Ryan Sports Ventures with the announcement of our first sports property investment behind Bill Foley and his team into AFC Bournemouth and FC Lorient .
On a personal note, making it even more special is the fact that, through this investment, we get to back Jim Frevola at AFCB who I’ve had the pleasure to work with on multiple deals over the past decade and who has now become a dear friend. When my former colleague Kim Utlaut and I accepted his invitation to attend UFC 169 in NY during the 2012 Super Bowl weekend, I could have never imagined it would have led to this moment. Another pleasant reminder of how small the sports industry is and how important investing in relationships can be throughout your career.
Huge thanks to Bill Foley, Ryan Caswell , Charles Curley, Jim Frevola and the entire Black Knight Football Club team for the help getting this over the line.
Up the 🍒!
