271: David Rubenstein, Co-Founder of The Carlyle Group, on the Business of Sports, Investing and Leadership

Sports investing has evolved as franchise values have risen, live sports have retained a powerful hold on audiences, and ownership has become an increasingly sophisticated business. Yet sports teams remain unusual assets, combining economics with competition, community identity and deeply emotional fan relationships.Host Oscar Pulido speaks with David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group and control partner of the Baltimore Orioles ownership group, about his move from private equity into sports investing. They discuss his decision to invest in his hometown team, the role franchises can play in their cities, and how leadership differs when success is measured by more than financial returns.The conversation also explores the forces influencing sports investing, from rising franchise values and broader ownership participation to live media demand, AI-powered analytics and longer-term developments across capital markets.Key moments in the episode:00:00 Meet David Rubenstein02:10 Sports ownership and Civic Responsibility04:06 Camden Yards and Baltimore City Revival06:42 What Owners Really Do09:00 Winning Over Profits10:24 Long Horizon Decisions13:06 Sports as an Asset Class15:45 AI in Sports and Moneyball 2.017:11 Next 20 Years of Investing20:28 First Orioles Game Memories21:38 Closing and Up Next🔗 Watch and Subscribe to The Bid on YouTube: https://1blk.co/48iHOs4 🔗 Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://1blk.co/3v09q6Q 🔗 Follow Us on Twitter (or X): https://1blk.co/3NuiIOW 🔗 Learn More About BlackRock: https://1blk.co/41uwhDS sports investing, David Rubenstein, Baltimore Orioles, sports ownership, business of sports, sports franchises, private equity, Carlyle Group, private markets, AI investing, artificial intelligence, baseball analytics, sports analytics, live sports, media rights, franchise valuations, leadership, sports business, institutional investing, professional sports ownershipSources: Inside The Owners Box, David Rubenstein, September 2026This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art