USOPC Weighs Selling Stake in Team USA's Commercial Rights Before LA 2028

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is deep into plans to build a new entity that would sell investors a slice of Team USA's commercial rights, according to multiple reports. Board meeting minutes name the proposed vehicle United States Olympic and Paralympic Ventures, or USOPV. Investment bank Raine Group is advising the USOPC, and Sky News reports the venture could be valued in the billions.

USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland told Reuters the organization is getting ready to move on from United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties, its commercial partnership with LA28 that wraps up after the Games. She said the USOPV's commercial model is still 'very much in progress' and declined to share specifics. According to the board minutes, Hirshland reported 'encouraging feedback' from early talks with potential investment and strategic partners, who generally backed the vision and rationale behind the venture.

This is a big pivot for a nonprofit that, unlike many national Olympic committees, runs on sponsorships, licensing and other commercial revenue instead of government money. The timing is no accident: the U.S. hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Team USA routinely sits atop the Summer Games medal table and brings names like Simone Biles and NBA stars to the spotlight.

Hirshland framed the shift as a long time coming, telling Reuters the organization has been preparing for it for more than a couple of years. The goal, she said, is a durable commercial structure that folds in host cities like Utah 2034 and could serve future host organizations down the line. The USOPC said in a statement it is weighing a range of commercial options to generate more resources for athletes and national governing bodies while protecting its mission, governance and leadership, and that athlete and federation representatives were consulted throughout.

The play follows a broader rush of sports leagues and governing bodies courting private capital to unlock the value of their commercial rights. Not every attempt lands: Fifa scrapped a plan for a $20bn subsidiary to run the World Cup and other events after backlash across global soccer threatened president Gianni Infantino's job. The USOPC is hoping its own version gets a smoother reception.