Deontay Wilder, Alabama’s Dallas Turner among investors in US sailing team

Deontay Wilder, Alabama’s Dallas Turner among investors in US sailing team

World champion heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder and the University of Alabama’s Dallas Turner are reportedly among a team of investors in the U.S. team taking part in a global sailing league.

The U.S. SailGP Team has a new ownership group, which includes the two Alabama sports figures, along with names from technology, sports and media.

Robb Report says the U.S. team will be among 10 national teams competing in 50-foot catamarans for a $4 million purse at next month’s two-day event in Dubai, the seventh of 12 league faceoffs.

Australian Jimmy Spithill sold the team. Other investors reportedly include the primary owners, tech entrepreneur Ryan McKillen and his wife, Margaret McKillen.

Other investors include actor Issa Rae, DJ and producer Gryffin, and NFL stars DeAndre Hopkins, Malik Jackson, Roquan Smith and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Also taking a stake are New England Revolution striker Jozy Altidore, and University of Michigan basketball’s Katelynn Flaherty Yates. Muse Capital founder Assia Grazioli, Richard Perna of Greenwich Advisory & Company, and VaynerMedia CEO Gary Vaynerchuk are also part of the team.

It is unclear how much each person is investing, nor how much the team is valued. However, a representative for the ownership group called it “the biggest deal in SailGP’s history.”

SailGP was launched in 2018 by Oracle chairman Larry Ellison and his America’s Cup–winning skipper Russell Coutts with the goal of transforming sailing into a mainstream spectator sport through a stadium-style, high-speed format.

“The pitch is quite simple,” Mike Buckley, U.S. SailGP Team’s new CEO said. “If you’re looking to invest in a media and entertainment platform that is also a professional sports team, we have a really cool option. It’s a professional sports team that happens to race sailboats at 50 to 60 miles an hour at events around the world.”