Excel Sports Management Partners with Goldman Sachs to Fuel Global Growth
New York – Nov. 10, 2025 – Excel Sports Management (“Excel”), an industry-leading sports agency that represents iconic talent, blue-chip brands and marquee properties, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Private Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives (“Goldman Sachs”) to form a new strategic partnership.
"Goldman Sachs is an exceptional partner for Excel Sports Management as we advance into our next stage of growth,” said Jeff Schwartz, Founder and CEO of Excel Sports Management. “Our organizations share a mutual commitment to excellence and integrity, and both define success by the success of our clients. Goldman’s access, expertise, and extensive resources will provide a powerful platform to accelerate Excel’s expansion and enhance the value we deliver to our clients worldwide."
"We have been impressed with Excel’s position at the heart of the fast-growing sports ecosystem and believe in their sustained, long-term success,” said Leonard Seevers, Partner in Private Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives. “Excel capitalizes on the combination of deep consumer loyalty to sports franchises, premier brands, and continued innovation in fan engagement, and we are excited to partner with Jeff and the rest of the Excel team to unlock new possibilities across the broader industry. We are confident that we can deliver our One Goldman Sachs approach to be a value-add partner in Excel’s next chapter of growth ambitions, leveraging our expertise as a global investment bank, premier wealth manager and one of the world’s largest investment managers.”
Excel stands at the center of the global sports marketplace, uniquely positioned to drive influence, opportunity, and growth across the industry. The agency’s talent division is a leader across multiple sports including basketball, baseball, golf and football with a roster that features rising stars, MVPs, all-stars and Hall-of-Famers. Excel’s properties division has become the go-to partner for rightsholder sponsorship sales representation, executive search, and advisory services, working across many of the leading global properties including Formula 1, NBA, EPL, NFL, MLB, MLS and NCAA, among others. The agency’s brand marketing division operates at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and culture, delivering a full range of services across strategy, creative, activation, and analytics to many of the top brands in the world. Excel also has leading speakers, hospitality, and event management businesses. Excel is led by Schwartz, Managing Partners Mark Steinberg and Casey Close, and Partners Emilio Collins and Alan Zucker.
Goldman Sachs brings a global platform, deep experience in the sports market, integrated sports advisory, financing & wealth management franchises, and a leading technology and media investment banking franchise to support Excel. The firm has a long track record of advising founders and owners across all major sports leagues globally, financing stadiums and other sports-related infrastructure, and investing in the sports ecosystem.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Moelis & Company served as exclusive financial advisor and Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP served as legal advisor to Excel on the transaction. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal counsel to Goldman Sachs. Shamrock Capital, a leading investment firm in sports, media, entertainment, and communications and Excel’s strategic minority investor since 2020, will exit as part of the transaction. LionTree Advisors served as financial advisor to Shamrock Capital on the transaction.
About Excel Sports Management
Excel Sports Management is an industry-leading sports agency representing top-tier talent, blue-chip brands and marquee properties. Excel is a three-time winner of Sports Business Journal’s Best In Talent Representation and Management award and is consistently ranked as one of the most valuable sports agencies in the world by Forbes. The agency has offices in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Charlotte and London with additional employees operating across Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit excelsm.com.
About Private Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives
Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) is one of the leading investors in alternatives globally, with over $500 billion in assets and more than 30 years of experience. The business invests in the full spectrum of alternatives including private equity, growth equity, private credit, real estate, infrastructure, hedge funds, and sustainability. Clients access these solutions through direct strategies, customized partnerships, and open-architecture programs. The business is driven by a focus on partnership and shared success with its clients, seeking to deliver long-term investment performance drawing on its global network and deep expertise across industries and markets. The alternative investments platform is part of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, which delivers investment and advisory services across public and private markets for the world’s leading institutions, financial advisors, and individuals. Goldman Sachs has over $3.5 trillion in assets under supervision globally as of September 30, 2025. Established in 1986, Private Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives has invested over $75 billion since inception. The business combines a global network of relationships, unique insight across markets, industries and regions, and the worldwide resources of Goldman Sachs to build businesses and accelerate value creation across its portfolios.