Meet the investor quietly buying into the Yankees, soccer and Broadway

Most sports fans probably haven't heard the name Robert Givone, but his fingerprints are now on some of the most valuable franchises and venues in the world. Givone is a partner at the investment firm Apollo and one of the leaders of its sports focused arm, Apollo Sports Capital. In less than a year, that group has quietly built ownership stakes throughout sports and live entertainment.

The most recognizable piece of that puzzle landed on August 11 when Yankee Global Enterprises announced a 2.6 billion dollar deal with Apollo, bringing outside capital into the organization for the first time in a meaningful way. The Steinbrenner family will keep control of the team, but Apollo chief executive Al Tylis now sits on the Yankees board.

Atlético de Madrid and Apollo Sports Capital have reached an agreement for Apollo to become the club’s majority shareholder.
Miguel Ángel Gil and Enrique Cerezo will remain as CEO and President, ensuring continuity and long-term leadership. pic.twitter.com/LPjY1XEWXr

— The Partido a Partido Podcast (@ThePaPPod) November 10, 2025

That same day, a separate but related deal was taking shape. Mari, a live events company backed by Apollo and built by longtime Hollywood power broker Ari Emanuel, agreed to buy ATG Entertainment. That company controls seven Broadway theaters and ten more in the West End in London, home to long running productions like Harry Potter and The Lion King.

The Yankees deal was not Apollo's first move into sports ownership. Earlier this year, Apollo Sports Capital took control of Atletico Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in Spanish soccer, in a deal valued at 2.5 billion euros. The club's existing leadership stayed in place after the deal closed in March.

The Yankees purchase alone signals how much things have shifted. Estimates now put the franchise value between 8.5 billion dollars and 9.4 billion dollars, a number so large that even the wealthiest owners are bringing in partners rather than going it alone.

— Morning Brew ☕️ (@MorningBrew) August 11, 2026

Apollo Sports Capital launched in September 2025, with Givone and fellow partner Lee Solomon running the investment side and Tylis overseeing the business as CEO. Givone described the thinking behind the Yankees agreement directly. "This is precisely the kind of bespoke capital solution Apollo Sports Capital was built to deliver."

The Emanuel partnership shows a different approach, betting on a proven operator instead of buying individual properties one at a time. Emanuel's Mari already owns the Miami Open, the Madrid Open, Frieze art fairs and the Barrett Jackson auto auctions. Givone said the strategy was designed to "unlock value across the existing asset base," and the ATG deal followed roughly ten months later.

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