Rory McIlroy called into question over new $250m business venture: 'This is a weird one'
Rory McIlroy’s Symphony Ventures has partnered with Brighton Park Capital to infuse $250m into TickPick for a majority ownership stake of the company.
Rory McIlroy has been called into question over his latest big business venture by sports business analyst Darren Rovell.
McIlroy’s Dublin-based investment firm Symphony Ventures has partnered with Brighton Park Capital to infuse $250m into TickPick for a majority ownership stake of the company.
TickPick, which was founded in 2011, is a ticketing marketplace that competes with the likes of StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats.
The investment from McIlroy's firm and Brighton Park Capital represents TickPick's largest fundraise yet.
It's the first investment into the company since a $40m round in 2019.
Related: Rory McIlroy set for frosty two-day pairing with PGA Tour pro at BMW Championship
Front Office Sports understands 'Brighton is likely responsible for the lion’s share, with Symphony listed as a strategic investor.'
The publication adds: 'Private equity firm GreyLion, which was the primary investor five years ago, will exit as part of the Brighton Park acquisition.'
Related: What is Rory McIlroy's net worth?
Rory McIlroy called into question over latest business venture
But according to leading sports business analyst Darren Rovell, who works for The Action Network and formerly of ESPN, believes McIlroy has made something of a mistake with his latest business venture.
'This is a weird one, tweeted Rovell, who has 1.9m followers on X / Twitter.
'You have $250m to put into something... You choose a secondary ticketing business that has less than 10% market share filled with disloyal consumers with shrinking margins?'
Regardless of Rovell's views, PGA Tour star McIlroy, 35, has now added another brand to his ever-growing business portfolio.
McIlroy currently has equity in digital tee-time platform GolfPass, virtual reality game Golf+, course management company Troon Golf, wellness companies Whoop and Hyperice, and adult mini-golf chain Puttery.
All of those companies are through Symphony.
McIlroy is then also a co-founder with Tiger Woods of TMRW Sports, which will soon tee off its new TGL featuring a number of the best PGA Tour players in early 2025.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler will not be part of TGL though.
TGL was due to start in 2024 but it was put back a year after its stadium roof caved in.
McIlroy and Woods reportedly had to fork out as much as $50m to repair the state-of-the-art facilities for their indoor golf league.
