Overview
- Utah announced Utah Brands & Entertainment LLC as a first-of-its-kind private equity partnership in college athletics to restructure revenue generation.
- New York-based Otro Capital is the planned co-owner in a venture reported to have NCAA clearance, with final agreements expected early in 2026.
- The University of Utah Foundation will own the entity and appoint a board majority, Athletic Director Mark Harlan will chair the board, and team operations remain within the athletics department.
- UB&E will oversee corporate sponsorships, ticketing, event revenues, trademarks and licensing to centralize monetization across the university.
- Reporting projects roughly $500 million from private investment and donor contributions, with donor stakes permitted, a revenue share to Otro, and a five-to-seven-year exit that includes a university buyback right.