Rory McIlroy, the renowned golfer who has earned over $155 million in prize money during his career, is expanding his portfolio with a significant investment in the secondary ticketing marketplace TickPick. McIlroy’s investment firm, Symphony Ventures, based in Dublin, has teamed up with Brighton Park Capital to contribute $250 million for a majority stake in the company, which was established in 2011.
While the exact amount contributed by Symphony Ventures is undisclosed, Brighton Park Capital is believed to have provided the majority of the funds, with Symphony Ventures acting as a strategic partner in the deal. This investment marks the largest fundraising event in the ticketing industry to date.
The founders of TickPick, Brett Goldberg and Chris O’Brien, will continue to play key roles within the company, maintaining substantial minority ownership. Although the current valuation of TickPick was not disclosed, this $250 million investment is the first significant capital raise since a $40 million round in 2019. The previous primary investor, private equity firm GreyLion, will exit the company as part of this acquisition.
For McIlroy, this investment is just one of many in the sports and entertainment sectors. Alongside Tiger Woods, McIlroy co-founded TMRW Sports, the $500 million parent company of the upcoming golf league TGL. Through Symphony Ventures, McIlroy has also invested in various other ventures, including the adult mini-golf chain Puttery, the digital tee time platform GolfPass, the virtual reality game Golf+, course management firm Troon Golf, and wellness companies Hyperice and Whoop.
While there are no immediate plans for how McIlroy or his associated companies might collaborate with TickPick, the potential for future opportunities is significant. Chris O’Brien, one of TickPick’s co-founders, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We’re excited to explore how we can leverage Rory’s personality and influence to enhance our brand.”
TickPick, which currently partners with sports teams like the Eagles, Rams, Twins, and Spain’s LaLiga, will be entering relatively new territory by engaging with the golf world. The platform competes with other secondary ticket marketplaces, including StubHub and SeatGeek.