(BPRW) Black Ownership In Sports Symposium Returns To ATL, Giving Insight On Buying In
Attendees will leave with a clear, actionable playbook to sports ownership.
(Tech Zone Daily) The Black Ownership in Sports Symposium, which celebrates Black ownership in the sports industry, will return to Atlanta on March 22, 2025, at The Buckhead Club.
Organized by Diverse Representation, the symposium aims to equip Black professionals with the education, access, and tools to pursue ownership stakes in professional sports teams.
Jaia Thomas, founder and CEO of Diverse Representation, launched the symposium to close a critical knowledge gap in the industry.
“There’s a lack of understanding when it comes to navigating ownership in sports,” Thomas said. “This event is designed to break down the process step-by-step.”
Focus of 2025 Symposium
This year’s program focuses on long-term investment strategies, private funding models, and legal frameworks. Thomas wants attendees to leave with a clear, actionable playbook.
“We’re seeing more Black faces in ownership conversations than ever before, but there’s still work to be done,” she said. “This event was created to provide the playbook—from financing to deal structuring to relationship-building—for those serious about taking a seat at the ownership table.”
Minority owners from across professional sports will speak at the symposium. Chief among the speakers is film director Will Packer, a minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. Known for film projects like Girls Trip, he will discuss how Black ownership can expand beyond entertainment into high-level business leadership.
“It has never been more important for African Americans to participate at all levels of power within the biggest global industries,” Packer said. “I can’t wait to share insights at the Black Ownership in Sports Symposium.”
The push for greater Black ownership comes as the numbers remain stark. Despite major American sports leagues featuring a majority of Black athletes, ownership and executive leadership remain overwhelmingly white and male.
Minority Black Ownership
Tennis icon Serena Williams has joined the ranks of Black minority owners in professional sports. The Wimbledon champion is now part of the ownership group behind the Toronto Tempo, a new WNBA franchise.
Meanwhile, Michael Jordan, once the only Black majority owner in U.S. major professional sports, sold his controlling stake in the Charlotte Hornets in 2023. The sale, valued at $3 billion, netted Jordan a hefty return on his initial $275 million investment.
Though Jordan now retains a minority share in the Hornets, his sale marks the end of Black majority ownership among teams in the major U.S. leagues.
The Black Ownership In Sports Symposium offers prospective owners a unique opportunity to learn directly from current owners. Through fireside chats and panels, attendees will gain practical insights to help close the ownership gap.
Source: BlackEnterprise.com
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