May 17, 2025 8:11:35 AM Jayden Walker 3 min read
The Sports Franchise Flex: Why Owning the Team Is the Ultimate Power Play
By Jayden Walker
While athletes battle it out on the field, some of the biggest wins in sports are happening off it — on spreadsheets, inside boardrooms, and through billion-dollar acquisitions.
And no move proves that more than Mark Cuban’s sale of the Dallas Mavericks.
Let’s break down what just happened — and why it should matter to every athlete, creator, and investor watching the business of sports evolve in real time.
Mark Cuban’s Billion-Dollar Exit: The Numbers
In 2000, Cuban bought the Mavericks for $285 million. Fast-forward 23 years, and he just sold the team for $3.5 billion.
Here’s what the math looks like:
• Total Profit: $3.22 billion
• Return on Investment (ROI): 1,128.07%
• Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR): 11.67%
• MOIC (Multiple on Invested Capital): 12.28x
Even with rough assumptions and capital added along the way, this is a masterclass in long-term wealth creation.
Why This Matters Now
Sports franchises aren’t just trophies for billionaires anymore.
They’re cash-flowing media empires, with built-in brand loyalty, global IP, scalable revenue streams, and live entertainment leverage the kind of asset private equity firms dream about.
And they’re performing like it:
• Valuations are compounding faster than traditional real estate or index funds.
• New expansion teams and leagues are launching backed by creator capital.
• Major players (athletes included) are buying in, not just playing.
This is the convergence of passion, brand, and business — and it’s happening faster than most people realise.
Lessons for Athletes & Creators
If you’re an athlete, creator, or entrepreneur — here’s what this should unlock for you:
1. Don’t just be part of the game. Own the game.
Equity > salary. Ownership creates generational wealth.
2. Start thinking like an asset builder, not just an earner.
Your brand, your audience, your deals — all of it can grow like a franchise when treated right.
3. Learn the business behind the jersey.
Most athletes are surrounded by wealth but don’t get the playbook. Start learning the rules.
The Play Ahead
Mark Cuban’s move wasn’t luck — it was leverage.
It was brand + access + long-term thinking + a strategic exit.
That’s the formula.
And with the rise of NIL, creator brands, athlete-led funds, and sports media startups — you don’t need $285 million to get started. You just need the right mindset and moves.
If you’re an athlete looking to build your brand like a business, grow real equity, and play the ownership game that’s exactly what we’re doing at Unite and BrandBallerz.
Let’s stop waiting for the world to offer us a deal — and start making the deals ourselves.
