6 Unusual Ways to Invest for the Sports Lover

Investing your money is always a bit exciting due to the simple drama that exists in potentially making money — or losing it. While the vast majority of people only tend to invest in 401(k)s, traditional stocks and bonds, and the like, investment opportunities can get plenty more interesting — especially if you’d like to wed your love of sports to your interest in investing.

Here are six options for investing your cash in sports-related ways that fly somewhat below the radar but can still sometimes make you money.

1. Horse Race Track Stocks

If you love thoroughbred racing, you should consider buying stock in Churchill Downs. The home of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) is a publicly traded company that owns racetracks in four states, casinos in five states and off-track betting sites in two states. In other words, anytime you want to bet on a horse race or play blackjack, you can still stand to win overall even if you lose a particular bet or two.

2. Aim for Minority Ownership

Very few people have the cash or assets to own a professional sports franchise outright, which is why some wealthy sports-loving investors opt instead for a minority, non-controlling share in their favorite team. While owning a minority share is possible for serious investors, it still is very pricey — think spending millions instead of billions — and, the minority owner doesn’t have the power to fire, hire, trade, and the like. That being said, a minority owner can still make money, and the perks can be heavenly. Access to players, luxury seats, VIP events — for the sports fan, those extras in addition to making a little extra scratch on the side are plenty of reasons to invest.

3. Buy Part of the Packers, Knicks, or Rangers

There are a few professional sports teams in America that are also publicly traded companies. Be forewarned, however, many teams that were once publicly held — like the Boston Celtics, Florida Panthers, and Cleveland Indians — are now privately owned, because they failed to make investors any money.

Those that everyday people can still buy into also include a bit of a catch. The Green Bay Packers, for instance, don’t trade on a stock exchange, and they don’t pay dividends, either. It’s the pride and joy of ownership that gets fans to invest. The New York Knicks and the New York Rangers are publicly traded but as part of the media conglomerate, Madison Square Garden Company. Their stock, then, is more directly related to sales at and related to the venue, rather than the individual teams’ values.

4. lnvest in a Gym

Do you have a friend who’s always dreamed of opening an athletic club or climbing facility? Investing capital could be a great way to earn a little bit of money, while backing your friend and bettering your community. You could also buy into one of the chains that operate around the country.

Whatever you choose, be sure to do your research ahead of time. Running a gym is a risky endeavor, especially because trends in fitness are always changing. Choose a gym that has performed solidly over the years, or, if you’re investing in a new endeavor, make sure the business and marketing plan are rock solid.

5. Invest in Sports Apparel

Whether you’re a Nike, Adidas, Reebok, or smaller athletic apparel brand fan, investing in sports clothing and sports gear is a good way to line your pockets. The sports apparel and gear industry is currently booming. Americans spend billions of dollars on clothing, gear, and shoes made by publicly traded companies every year. As more and more tech gets involved in the gear and apparel, those numbers should continue to rise. Especially because athletic wear is worn both inside and outside the gym, it can be a wise investment to make.

6. A Real, Live Race Horse

While owning a race horse is a considerable investment of money, time, and energy, partial ownership is less risky and still stands to possibly win you some money. Through a partnership or syndicate, you can actually buy part of a real, live racing thoroughbred for as little as a couple thousand dollars. Of course, buying in includes the ongoing expenses of upkeep, training, and the like, but the advantage of having a smaller overall share means those bills are smaller for you as well. And if your horse can run? Well, your payout won’t be as big as someone who owns a larger share in the horse, but you’ll still get paid, and you’ll also benefit from perks like special seating at races.

Turn your love of sports into a little extra dough. If you’ve got some money set aside, consider these six unusual ways to invest that are ideal for the sports lover.