Squawk Pod Squawk Box Turns 30! Mario Gabelli & Ted Leonsis 9/9/25
Sep 9, 2025
Ted Leonsis, founder and CEO of Monumental Sports, shares insights on a possible IPO and the future of his franchise teams like the Wizards and Capitals. Mario Gabelli, chairman and CEO of GAMCO Investors, reveals his investment strategy in a revitalized IPO market. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of sports as an investment, the integration of technology in fan experiences, and the implications of Rupert Murdoch’s succession saga for media dynamics. It's an engaging look at the intersection of sports and finance!
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Basketball And E‑Sports As Growth Plays
- Leonsis sees basketball and e-sports as growth categories suited to digital globalization.
- He positions teams as platform companies aiming to export content and fandom worldwide.
Act Like A Pre‑IPO Company
- Prepare your company to operate like a pre-IPO with rigorous process and discipline before listing.
- Only pursue an IPO when the market understands the business as a platform, not just a sports team.
Private Valuations Outpace Public Appetite
- Monumental's private valuation reflects heavy private equity and sovereign investment into sports platforms.
- Public markets still rarely treat sports companies as pure platform tech businesses.