Iger and Kushner Plan Majority-Stake Bid for NBA Las Vegas Franchise
DIS•Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner have hired investment bankers to explore a majority-stake bid for the NBA’s Las Vegas expansion franchise through Thrive Eternal, a permanent capital vehicle with an unspecified valuation. Iger’s advisory role underscores his ongoing sports assets focus and potential synergies with Disney’s ESPN network.
1. Bid Exploration
Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner have engaged investment banks to evaluate a majority-investment bid for the NBA’s upcoming Las Vegas expansion team. Discussions remain private and no bid size or franchise valuation has been disclosed.
2. Thrive Eternal Structure
The group plans to make the offer through Thrive Eternal, a permanent capital holding company backed by Thrive Capital’s investors. This structure allows long-term ownership without a set exit timeline.
3. Strategic Implications for Disney
Iger’s involvement highlights his continued focus on sports assets following his Disney tenure and suggests potential content and rights partnerships between the new franchise and Disney’s ESPN network.
