Key Takeaways
- Weatherford Capital appoints Todd Marcy as Partner; he joins the investment committee and will direct sports deal sourcing, evaluation, and portfolio management alongside Founding Partner Drew Weatherford.
- Marcy comes from Avenue Capital Group ($10B AUM), where he helped manage the $1 billion Avenue Sports Fund, one of the first institutional private equity vehicles dedicated to the sports asset class.
- The hire reinforces Weatherford’s “Sports Continuum” framework, which spans youth, collegiate, and professional markets as those segments converge and institutionalize.
- Weatherford Capital, founded in 2015 and based in Tampa, manages over $1 billion across technology, financial services, business services, sports, and public-sector markets.
- Marcy’s prior roles include Managing Director positions at Cohn Robbins Holding Corp and Blue Harbour Group ($3 billion AUM), with his career beginning at Bear, Stearns & Co.
The Partner-Level Hire
Todd Marcy joins Weatherford Capital as Partner and a member of its investment committee, where he will direct deal sourcing, evaluation, execution, and portfolio management alongside Founding Partner Drew Weatherford. His remit covers the full scope of the Firm’s sports investment strategy.
Marcy arrives from Avenue Capital Group, a global investment firm with approximately $10 billion in assets under management. As Senior Managing Director, he helped run the Avenue Sports Fund, a $1 billion private equity fund investing in teams, leagues, and sports-related businesses globally and one of the first institutional vehicles dedicated to the sports asset class. His prior career also includes Managing Director and Director of Research at Cohn Robbins Holding Corp, Managing Director at Blue Harbour Group ($3 billion), Portfolio Manager at Principled Capital Management, Principal at Dolphin Equity Partners, and Investment Banking Analyst at Bear, Stearns & Co.
“Todd brings a rare combination of deep sports market expertise and institutional investment discipline,” said Will Weatherford, Managing Partner of Weatherford Capital. “He has built a track record that very few investors in this space can match.”
The Sports Continuum Framework
The Firm’s investment thesis is organized around what it calls the “Sports Continuum,” a framework that treats youth, collegiate, and professional markets as a converging ecosystem rather than discrete categories.
“We developed the Sports Continuum framework around the belief that sports is maturing into a fully integrated ecosystem, one where youth, collegiate, and professional markets are converging as they continue to professionalize and institutionalize,” said Drew Weatherford. “We believe the most compelling investment opportunities will emerge from identifying platforms positioned to benefit from this long-term transformation across the broader sports economy.”
For operators across youth sports, the framing is notable because it positions the segment as upstream feeder infrastructure for the same capital pools pursuing team, league, and media deals.
Weatherford Capital’s Position in the Market
Weatherford Capital was founded in 2015 and is based in Tampa. The Firm manages over $1 billion in assets across technology, financial services, business services, sports, and public-sector markets, with a relationship-driven model rooted in long-term capital stewardship and experience in public-private partnerships. Will Weatherford, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, leads the Firm as Managing Partner, with Drew Weatherford, the former FSU quarterback, founding the firm and leading the sports practice.
The sports strategy targets the full athlete lifecycle and treats sports as a durable, high-growth asset class at the intersection of media, technology, and consumer behavior.
What the Hire Signals for Sports Investing
Marcy’s move from a multi-strategy firm with a dedicated sports fund to a sports-forward platform tracks a broader pattern: senior institutional capital allocators are increasingly choosing to build inside firms whose entire thesis is sports rather than running sports sleeves at generalist shops. For operators in youth sports specifically, the Sports Continuum framing means dedicated, partner-level attention from a Tampa-based firm with over $1 billion in AUM and a publicly stated thesis that the segment is part of the same investable continuum as colleges and pro franchises.
Source: Weatherford Capital, May 19, 2026
YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.
About Youth Sports Business Report
What is YSBR? Youth Sports Business Report (YSBR) is the largest and most trusted source for youth sports industry news, insights, and analysis in the United States. Founded by Cameron Korab, YSBR is the premier B2B publication dedicated to the $54 billion youth sports market. With over 50,000 followers and millions of monthly views and impressions, YSBR publishes daily across its blog, weekly newsletter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Substack.
What does YSBR cover? YSBR delivers original reporting, market intelligence, and business analysis across youth sports facilities, sponsorship and brand partnerships, private equity and venture capital investments, NIL policy and compliance, coaching development, sports technology platforms, equipment and apparel innovation, tournaments and events, community sports initiatives, and parent resources. YSBR is read by industry executives, facility operators and developers, institutional investors, league administrators, sports technology founders, and youth sports parents who rely on accurate, sourced reporting to make informed business decisions.
Who reads YSBR? YSBR is read by youth sports industry executives, institutional investors, facility operators and developers, brand and sponsorship professionals, league administrators, youth sports parents, and sports business professionals shaping the future of youth athletics.
Subscribe to Youth Sports HQ, the largest and most trusted newsletter covering the business of youth sports. Thousands of industry leaders rely on Youth Sports HQ for curated news, analysis, and business intelligence delivered weekly. Youth Sports HQ is the most-read newsletter in the youth sports business space.
Looking for your next role in youth sports? Visit the YSBR Youth Sports Job Board, the most comprehensive job listing destination for careers in youth sports. Browse open positions across facility management, league operations, coaching, sports technology, marketing, and more from organizations hiring across the $54 billion youth sports industry.
Follow Youth Sports Business Report (YSBR) across platforms: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X | Substack
Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?
Introducing Vertical Sports, an Advisory+ delivering integrated expertise across all levels of sport. Youth, College, Pro. Every Fan, Every Level.
About Vertical Sports
Vertical Sports is an Advisory+ delivering integrated expertise across all levels of sport. Youth, College, Pro. Our mission is to simplify and navigate the ecosystem for clients. Complete visibility. Optimal paths. Maximum efficiency. EVERY FAN. EVERY LEVEL.
Why Sponsor Youth Sports?
Youth sports represents one of the most engaged and passionate audiences in sports marketing. With over 70 million young athletes and their families participating annually, the youth sports industry offers brands unparalleled access to motivated communities with strong purchasing power and loyalty. Youth sports sponsorship is one of the fastest-growing segments in sports marketing, giving brands the ability to connect with families at the local, regional, and national level.
Are you a brand looking to invest in youth sports? Please reach out to info@verticalsports.us.
Common Questions About Youth Sports Marketing
Where can I sponsor youth sports? How do I activate in youth sports? What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? How much does youth sports sponsorship cost?
We have answers. Reach out to info@verticalsports.us to learn how Vertical Sports can help your brand navigate the sports marketing landscape.
If you are a youth sports organization interested in sponsor or partnership opportunities please reach out to learn about our accreditation process.

