Sports Revolution Secures New Funding

International fund management business, Sustainable Technology Investments Ltd, has acquired a minority stake in the sports media and marketing group, Sports Revolution, to help fund sports stadia infrastructure projects.

Sustainable Technology Investments (STIG) was founded by Stephen Lansdown, owner of Bristol City Football Club and co-founder of the publicly quoted Hargreaves Lansdown, a leading financial services provider and wealth management specialist, and Gordon Power, private equity pioneer. Power will now join Sports Revolution’s board as non-executive director.

The investment will be used primarily to help fund Sports Revolution’s sports stadia infrastructure projects. The installations, including LED pitch-side advertising, HD concourse TV and in-stadia social media, aim to transform fans’ experience and create new revenue streams for rights holders in the UK and abroad. STIG’s involvement will help Sports Revolution expand this model of fan engagement, building on projects in 2012 for The Football Association and The Rugby Football Union.

Chris Ingram, Sports Revolution executive chairman said: ‘When Sports Revolution first started over ten years ago, it was a small business selling static advertising space at UK football grounds. Now, we are an international business with revenue streams across rights, consultancy, sponsorship, stadium technology, mobile and social media. We have installed our cutting edge media technology in 22 major sporting arenas in the UK since 2009 and in the past three months have undertaken major consultancy and installation projects at both Wembley and Twickenham Stadiums. This is a capital-intensive business model and we welcome STIG’s investment and support which will help us to take Sports Revolution to the next level.’

Gordon Power, co-founder of STIG added: ‘Our investment in Sports Revolution is the second we have made in the media sector and will be a strong addition to our portfolio. We saw an opportunity here to help fund the business as it becomes increasingly involved in stadia media infrastructure. We think they are well-positioned to maximise exciting opportunities in sports media and I look forward to working closely with the management team.’

Power will join International Advertising Association chairman Alan Rutherford as a fellow non-executive director of Sports Revolution. Former BBC director general Greg Dyke and European PGA Tour founder Ken Schofield sit on the company’s advisory board.