DFL/strategic partnership: discussions with investment firm CVC continue but Blackstone withdraws

The US investment fund Blackstone "is no longer under consideration as a strategic marketing partner" of the DFL and the Luxembourg fund CVC Capital Partners is therefore the only investor to continue discussions with the German League in connection with the creation of a new company that will bring together the global media rights and other commercial rights (central licensing partnerships and sponsorships at League level) of the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga, announced the Deutsche Fußball Liga on 14/02/2024.

Five candidates had initially expressed interest in the project, three of whom were selected by the DFL executive committee in December 2023, followed by two on 17/01/2024.

The DFL cites the accumulation of "critical points, in particular the restrictive governance (of the future structure) and economic aspects" to justify the sidelining of Blackstone, who would in fact have withdrawn from the discussions mainly due to protests from many fans against the principle of this new commercial company. According to several international media, this was too great an obstacle for the…