USOPC advances plan to sell stake in Team USA commercial rights as LA 2028 nears
On 3 November 2026 the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is in advanced stages of establishing an entity to sell a stake in Team USA's commercial rights in return for capital as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics. The proposed vehicle would be called United States Olympic and Paralympic Ventures (USOPV).
The plan has been in the works for months and would represent a departure for the USOPC, a non-profit that relies heavily on sponsorships, licensing and other commercial revenue streams rather than government funding. Minutes of USOPC board meetings show early-stage discussions and include: "[USOPC CEO Sarah] Hirshland reported encouraging feedback from preliminary discussions with potential investment and strategic partners," and "Prospective partners generally validated the vision for the USOPV and strategic rationale underlying the initiative." Multiple reports say the committee is preparing the structure to monetise its commercial rights.
Sky News reported the USOPC is being advised by investment bank Raine Group and said the venture could be valued in the billions of dollars. Sky News also said Raine was serving as advisor on the initiative. Raine did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The potential deal comes as the United States prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and amid growing investor interest in sports assets and intellectual property. Reporting on the proposal highlighted Team USA's commercial appeal: Team USA consistently tops the medal table at the Summer Olympics and brings NBA stars, high-profile track athletes and famous names like Simone Biles to the Games. The timing aligns with the end of the USOPC's current commercial partnership related to the Los Angeles Games.
Hirshland told Reuters her organisation was preparing to transition away from its commercial partnership with LA28. She said the commercial model for the USOPV is "very much in progress" and declined to offer specific details. "This is a natural transition point and is one we’ve been talking about and preparing for for more than a couple of years," Hirshland added.
After the Los Angeles Olympics, reporting said the US will turn attention to the 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Hirshland said: "We’re obviously very focused on how do we create a sort of sustainable and consistent commercial strength that will both incorporate potential host cities, in this case obviously Utah 34, but also a structure that would allow for future host organizations." The coverage noted the move underscores how sports leagues and governing bodies are increasingly turning to private capital in a bid to unlock the value of their commercial rights and secure access to resources to fund future growth.
The USOPC said in a statement it was evaluating a range of commercial options to generate additional resources for athletes and national governing bodies while preserving its mission, governance and leadership. It added that it had consulted athlete and federation representatives throughout the process. The reporting referenced recent controversy in global sport, noting Fifa scrapped plans to create a $20bn subsidiary to run the World Cup and its other events, a proposal that prompted a revolt across global soccer and threatened Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s job security.
The commercial partnership with LA28, known as United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties, comes to an end after the Games. Hirshland said the USOPC is focused on creating a commercial structure that will "both incorporate potential host cities, in this case obviously Utah 34, but also a structure that would allow for future host organizations."