Latest news with #MiddleWestPartners
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TGL's $70M Detroit Expansion Team Backed by Lions, Broncos Owners
Detroit Lions owner Sheila Hamp will be a co-owner of the Motor City Golf Club when it joins the Florida-based indoor golf league TGL in 2027. Hamp's son Michael will be the team's governor as one of the principals in Middle West Partners, which leads the new ownership group. Denver Broncos owner Rob Walton will also have owner's suite privileges at SoFi Center. And they won't be alone among NFL affiliates at the highest levels of the tech-infused golf competition. TGL announced the expansion club Tuesday, saying Detroit will join the six original franchises for the 2027 season. According to a person familiar with the transaction, Motor City paid more than $70 million for a spot in the league, which could see further expansion after its debut season. That's more than double the entry fee for founding teams. A TGL spokesperson declined to comment on the team's expansion price. TGL parent company TMRW Sports was valued at nearly $500 million in a 2024 funding round. Advertisement More from Owners tied to the Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Kraken, Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Rockies were all reportedly spotted at TGL matches in 2025 as big-name sports investors eye the upstart league. Washington Commanders co-owner David Blitzer, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen are among those already invested in teams. 'We really like those team owners that are operators of other sports teams and other professional leagues in their communities,' TMRW Sports founder Mike McCarley said last year. In recent weeks, expansion speculation has followed news that TGL Holdings filed trademark requests for 'Chicago Links Golf Club' and 'Texas Golf Club' in addition to 'Motor City Golf Club.' A Dallas-based group has reportedly put up $77 million to land a team. Advertisement TGL has also considered adding women to its competition—and possibly opening a West Coast playing venue as well. L.A. Golf Club owner Alexis Ohanian said in April that he expects the team to achieve profitability in year two. The Motor City ownership group also includes technology entrepreneur Kal Somani, co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League; Ronin Capital Partners, led by Jay Farner, former CEO of Rocket Companies; and sports investment firm RHC Group. A PGA Tour event sponsored by Rocket Mortgage has been held at Detroit Golf Club in Michigan since 2019. Middle West Partners didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Michael Hamp's grandfather, William Clay Ford Sr.—himself the grandson of Henry Ford—purchased the Detroit Lions in 1964 for $6 million. (This story has been updated in the penultimate paragraph with mention of Middle West Partners not immediately responding to comment.) Advertisement Best of Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
TGL bringing golf club to Detroit with support from Lions, Broncos owners
A new TGL team named the Motor City Golf Club is coming to Detroit. The league, founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and media executive Mike McCarley, will launch its seventh team in 2027, according to a news release. Middle West Partners, which includes the Detroit Lions owner, the Hamp family, and the Denver Broncos owner, Rob Walton, will be the ownership group to lead the team. Other members of the ownership group include Jordan Rose, president and founder of Rose Law Group; Kit Hawkins and Vansa Chatikavanij of Present Ventures; technology entrepreneur Kal Somani, co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League; Ronin Capital Partners, which is led by former Rocket Companies CEO Jay Farner; and RHC Group, an active sports investment firm and early supporter of TGL. "This is a great moment for Detroit sports and a proud moment for me personally," said Michael Hamp in the news release. "My grandfather, William Clay Ford Sr., was an avid golfer, and I believe bringing a new format of the game he loved would make him really proud. I'm incredibly grateful for our partners at MCGC – it's an honor to build this team together. Detroit's fans are the most loyal in sports, and we're excited to represent our city in TGL and build a team that Detroit fans will be proud to support." The Motor City Golf Club will join six other teams: Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links GC, Los Angeles Golf Club, New York Golf Club, and The Bay Golf Club. Each team has four PGA Tour players and three competitors in each match. According to the league's website, the teams face off in two-hour matches across 15 holes in hybrid and real life. The matches are played at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The inaugural season began in January 2025, with Atlanta Drive GC named champions. "We are excited to be a part of innovating the great game of golf. TGL finds a terrific balance between honoring the tradition of the sport while adding elements that will grow its appeal and fan base. We look forward to being a part of Motor City Golf Club," Walton and Rose said in a joint statement.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL golf announces Detroit expansion team Motor City Golf Club
A new team is coming to TGL — the golf league co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Detroit was awarded the league's first-ever expansion team with the Motor City Golf Club, TGL announced Tuesday. While the news was announced Tuesday, Motor City Golf Club won't begin playing in TGL until 2027. Because of that, the announcement did not feature any news about the team's roster or any branding information about the club. The owners are known, however. The team will be co-owned by Middle West Partners and members of the Hamp family, which also co-owns the Detroit Lions. Sheila Ford Hamp and her husband Steve are co-owners of the club. Denver Broncos owner Rob Walton is also part of the ownership group. TGL — which combines golf and technology — completed its first season in March. Six teams made up of PGA pros competed over the course of two months in three-on-three and singles events. The Atlanta Drive — which features Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel and Lucas Glover — won the league's first SoFi Cup. Six cities were represented during the first season of the league — Atlanta, Boston, Jupiter, Los Angeles, New York and The Bay. Jupiter — which features Tiger Woods — represents Florida. The Bay represents the San Francisco Bay Area. Tuesday's news also confirms there will be multiple seasons of the league. While that was assumed after the conclusion of the TGL's first season, nothing was set in stone. The expansion to Detroit suggests TGL expects to play seasons in both 2026 and 2027. The league did not announce additional details about its second season.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL golf announces Detroit expansion team Motor City Golf Club
A new team is coming to TGL — the golf league co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Detroit was awarded the league's first-ever expansion team with the Motor City Golf Club, TGL announced Tuesday. While the news was announced Tuesday, Motor City Golf Club won't begin playing in TGL until 2027. Because of that, the announcement did not feature any news about the team's roster or any branding information about the club. The owners are known, however. The team will be co-owned by Middle West Partners and members of the Hamp family, which also co-owns the Detroit Lions. Sheila Ford Hamp and her husband Steve are co-owners of the club. Denver Broncos owner Rob Walton is also part of the ownership group. TGL — which combines golf and technology — completed its first season in March. Six teams made up of PGA pros competed over the course of two months in three-on-three and singles events. The Atlanta Drive — which features Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel and Lucas Glover — won the league's first SoFi Cup. Six cities were represented during the first season of the league — Atlanta, Boston, Jupiter, Los Angeles, New York and The Bay. Jupiter — which features Tiger Woods — represents Florida. The Bay represents the San Francisco Bay Area. Tuesday's news also confirms there will be multiple seasons of the league. While that was assumed after the conclusion of the TGL's first season, nothing was set in stone. The expansion to Detroit suggests TGL expects to play seasons in both 2026 and 2027. The league did not announced additional details about its second season.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL golf announces Detroit expansion team Motor City Golf Club
A new team is coming to TGL — the golf league co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy — next season. Detroit was awarded the league's first-ever expansion team with the Motor City Golf Club, TGL announced Tuesday. While the news was announced Tuesday, Motor City Golf Club won't begin playing in TGL until 2027. Because of that, the announcement did not feature any news about the team's roster or any branding information about the club. Advertisement The owners are known, however. The team will be co-owned by Middle West Partners and members of the Hamp family, which also co-owns the Detroit Lions. Sheila Ford Hamp and her husband Steve are co-owners of the club. Denver Broncos owner Rob Walton is also part of the ownership group. TGL — which combines golf and technology — completed its first season in March. Six teams made up of PGA pros competed over the course of two months in three-on-three and singles events. The Atlanta Drive — which features Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horshcel and Lucas Glover — won the league's first SoFi Cup. Six cities were represented during the first season of the league — Atlanta, Boston, Jupiter, Los Angeles, New York and The Bay. Jupiter — which features Tiger Woods — represents Florida. The Bay represents California. Tuesday's news also confirms there will be multiple seasons of the league. While that was assumed after the conclusion of the TGL's first season, nothing was set in stone. The expansion to Detroit suggests TGL expects to play seasons in both 2026 and 2027. The league did not announced additional details about its second season.
