Champion Venture Partners
Sports Assets
Champion Venture Partners, Inc. (CVP) is a private holding company that acquires and holds minority equity positions in sports and sports-adjacent businesses. Co-founded by former NFL standout Marques Colston, former pro MMA fighter Nick Edwards, and serial company builder Jeff McDermott, CVP uses its founders' athlete networks and operating experience to source off-market deal flow across club ownership, ticketing, hospitality, media, and sports medicine.
The Project
A CVP-branded private secondary marketplace, powered by Liquid Mercury, that gives existing holders and approved buyers a single controlled destination to review secondary opportunities, express indications of interest, negotiate pricing, and complete documentation and approvals across the full transaction lifecycle.
Value Proposition
Institutional-quality sports positions historically reserved for the ultra-wealthy, assembled into a single closed portfolio that compounds organically. Shareholder liquidity occurs exclusively through private secondary transactions on controlled, compliance-gated infrastructure. This is the only avenue through which new parties may acquire an interest.
Quick Facts
- Sector: Sports Assets: minority equity positions
- Liquid Mercury: Equity stakeholder and infrastructure partner
- Portfolio Value: ~$100M (Sep 2025)
- Structure: Private holding company, closed to new investors
- Liquidity: Private secondary transactions only
Meet Champion Venture Partners
Market Opportunity
The Sports Ownership Opportunity
Institutional-quality sports positions, including club ownership, ticketing, hospitality, media, and sports medicine, have historically been accessible only to institutions and the ultra-wealthy. CVP assembles these positions into a single closed holding company and, through Liquid Mercury, provides controlled secondary liquidity that pairs its sports asset thesis with institutional-grade market technology.
$48.9B
US Sports Investment Market (2025)
6.9%
Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
$5.7B
Avg NFL Franchise Valuation
$4B
Avg NBA Franchise Valuation
13%
Cumulative Annual Growth (60+ Years)
$200B+
Global Sports Revenue by 2030
How It Works
Source, Hold, and Provide Liquidity
01
Source Off-Market Deal Flow
Founders' athlete networks, operating experience, and company-building track record surface off-market opportunities across the sports ecosystem, from club ownership to ticketing, hospitality, media, and sports medicine.
02
Acquire & Hold Minority Positions
CVP takes and holds minority equity positions as a private holding company. Governance runs through a board of directors and an internal investment committee, with portfolio management fully delegated to Champion Capital, a registered investment advisor.
03
Compound Organically
The portfolio is closed to new investors. Cash flow and exit proceeds are reinvested into new assets rather than raised as additional capital, allowing the portfolio to compound organically over time.
04
Controlled Secondary Liquidity
Shareholder liquidity occurs exclusively through private secondary transactions on the CVP-branded marketplace powered by Liquid Mercury. This is the only avenue through which new parties may acquire an interest.
June 2026
Current Portfolio
EFL Championship Club
England
A minority equity position in a football club competing in England's EFL Championship.
Serie A Club
Italy
A minority equity position in a top-flight Italian Serie A football club.
USL Club
United States
A minority equity position in a United Soccer League club in the United States.
Private Resort Property
Hospitality
A sports-adjacent hospitality holding within the CVP portfolio.
Sports Interval Fund
LP Stake
A limited partner stake in a sports-focused interval fund.
Asset Management Firm
Financial Services
A position in an asset management firm extending CVP's reach across financial services.
Sports Medicine Company
Growth-Stage
A growth-stage sports medicine company within CVP's venture strategy.
Leadership
The Founders Behind CVP
Marques Colston
Co-Founder & Partner
Former NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl XLIV champion, the New Orleans Saints' all-time leader in most major receiving categories. 15+ years operating, advising, and investing across the sports ecosystem; built an executive education program for professional athletes at Columbia Business School.
Nick Edwards
Co-Founder & Partner
Former professional MMA fighter and nationally recognized performance physiologist who has worked with the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets. A serial founder of venture studios and health-tech startups, Nick leads CVP's growth-stage venture strategy and portfolio development.
Jeff McDermott
Co-Founder & Partner
Venture builder and serial founder who has created and scaled multiple investment firms, funds, and startup studios. Jeff brings zero-to-one company-building, fund operations, and ecosystem-development expertise to CVP's platform.
Competitive Landscape
How CVP Is Different
| Competitor | CVP Advantage |
|---|---|
| Private Sports Stakes (no liquidity) | Controlled CVP-branded secondary marketplace for shareholder liquidity vs no exit path |
| Sports Private Equity (Arctos, Ares, Dynasty) | Off-market, founder-sourced deal flow vs competitive auction access |
| Single-Asset Sports Funds | Diversified minority-position holding company across the sports ecosystem vs single-asset exposure |
| Open-Ended Funds Raising New Capital | Closed portfolio compounding organically vs continuous capital raises and dilution |
Powered by Liquid Mercury
Mercury Technology Stack
Mercury Products
- Matching Engine
- Mercury Ledger
- UI/UX
- OEMS
Mercury Services
- LaaS
- Tokenization
- Regulatory Advisory
- Business Development
Partner Services
- Custody
Next Step
Learn More About ACQUA1
Contact the team for deeper portfolio context, secondary-market access requirements, and additional information about how CVP fits into the ACQUA1 structure.
Request Details