M
att Rizzetta, a seasoned sports and media investor, is launching Underdog Global Partners, a private‑equity outfit aimed at acquiring sports, real‑estate, and media intellectual‑property assets. The firm’s inaugural portfolio will feature worldwide sports and media holdings alongside related real‑estate assets such as stadiums and arenas. Early capital comes from high‑net‑worth individuals and family offices. Rizzetta’s track record includes buying Serie C side Campobasso FC in 2022, transforming it into a professional club, and later co‑creating the Disney/ESPN series “Running With the Wolves.” Underdog officially opens this Thursday, already employing roughly 100 people, and may soon target arenas and a U.S. youth‑sports academy. The firm plans to invest in sports technology startups. (WSJ, Sept 29)