Sportradar Completes IMG ARENA Acquisition, Expands Global Sports Data Dominance

Sportradar (NASDAQ: SRAD) has completed its landmark acquisition of IMG ARENA, marking a significant consolidation in the global sports data and betting industry. This strategic move dramatically expands Sportradar's portfolio, adding relationships with over 70 rights holders and approximately 38,000 official data events across 14 major sports on six continents. The acquisition strengthens Sportradar's position in key betting markets including tennis, soccer, and basketball, bringing premium properties like Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, Roland-Garros, Major League Soccer, EuroLeague basketball, and the PGA Tour under its umbrella. CEO Carsten Koerl emphasized that this positions Sportradar uniquely to deliver more immersive, data-rich experiences to clients, partners, and fans worldwide while accelerating innovation across the global sports ecosystem.

The financial structure of this deal is particularly noteworthy, as Sportradar didn't provide any financial consideration upfront. Instead, the arrangement involved approximately $122 million in cash prepayments by the seller to sports rights holders and about $103 million to Sportradar. The company expects the acquisition to be immediately accretive to adjusted EBITDA margins and free cash flow conversion, while accelerating revenue growth. This acquisition supports Sportradar's ambitious target of achieving €1.7 billion in revenue by 2027, representing a 15% compound annual growth rate. The company also anticipates margin expansion to 27% by 2027, a 700 basis point improvement from current levels, driven by what they describe as industry-leading scale and unmatched competitive advantages.

Beyond the immediate benefits, Sportradar plans to leverage this acquisition to outpace the global sports betting market, which is forecast to hit $182.12 billion by 2030 according to Grandview Research. The company's proven ability to cross-sell and up-sell its diverse portfolio, combined with major sports rights secured for the long term, positions it for sustained growth. Looking ahead, Sportradar indicated it will continue seeking opportunities in adjacent markets, including leveraging its marketing services in the online casino space, which represents a potentially $2 billion serviceable addressable market. With this transformative acquisition complete, Sportradar is confident it can fundamentally change how fans engage, interact, and bet on sports worldwide.