What GameAbove does

GameAbove is a privately held, Fort Myers, Florida-based investment company founded in 2019 by an Eastern Michigan University alumni group and supported by parent CapStone Holdings Inc. It operates four wholly-owned subsidiaries: GameAbove Sports (strategic investments in professional sports franchises and golf-related companies), GameAbove Entertainment (documentary and docuseries production including ECHL Unfiltered on Roku/YouTube and the Iceman George Gervin film on NBA platforms), GameAbove Golf (portfolio including lead-investor positions in McLaren Golf and PLATFORM Golf, plus CHIP'd Golf and Golf Traveller), and GameAbove Giving (the philanthropic arm with more than $38 million deployed since 2019). The company combines sports franchise ownership (Detroit Amplifiers of BIG3, Brisbane Bullets of Australia's NBL), event sponsorships (GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field, Michigan Women's Open, Detroit Sports Commission Golf Classic), entertainment content production, and large-scale philanthropy primarily directed at Eastern Michigan University, where it underwrites the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology, a $8 million Golf Performance Center, and more than $17 million in NIL funding for the women's golf program.

The underlying technology stack is concentrated in portfolio companies rather than built in-house. CHIP'd Golf uses patented Intellicore embedded electronics in a smart putting ball that transmits real-time ball-movement and position data to a mobile application for putting analytics. McLaren Golf employs Metal Injection Molding (MIM) manufacturing for precision control of iron geometry and mass distribution. PLATFORM Golf integrates dynamic-slope and putting simulation technology with Trackman's simulator ecosystem to replicate real-world course conditions in off-course environments. The GameAbove Golf Performance Center is a 13,000-square-foot indoor training facility at Eagle Crest supporting Eastern Michigan's golf programs.

GameAbove's revenue model blends investment returns, sponsorship-related income, and entertainment content monetization rather than consumer product sales. Sponsorship inventory includes title sponsorships of the Detroit Sports Commission Golf Classic, Michigan Women's Open (with Coca-Cola as co-presenter), and the GameAbove Sports Bowl. Investment returns flow from equity positions in sports franchises (Detroit Amplifiers, Brisbane Bullets), golf equipment and technology (McLaren Golf, PLATFORM Golf, CHIP'd Golf), and golf tourism (Golf Traveller, partnered with Troon). Content revenue and brand value accrue through ECHL Unfiltered on Roku and YouTube and the Iceman documentary on NBA App/TV. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and customer segments are concentrated in collegiate and professional sports organizations, educational institutions (notably EMU), corporate sponsors, and youth/community nonprofits in the Detroit and Michigan footprint, with growing international exposure through Australia and Italy.

Name

GameAbove

Legal name

GameAbove

Website

https://gameabove.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GameAbove is a privately held investment company that owns professional sports franchises (Detroit Amplifiers, Brisbane Bullets), invests in golf equipment and technology (McLaren Golf, PLATFORM Golf, CHIP'd Golf), produces sports entertainment content, and channels philanthropic capital primarily into Eastern Michigan University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Investment Holding Company

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Athlete & Team Sponsorship Deals (Official Partners, Jersey/Kit Sponsors) (MPAKALAA), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

Keywords

• Sports franchise ownership
• Golf investments
• Sports event sponsorship
• Entertainment content production
• Philanthropic investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Myers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: GameAbove generates returns through strategic investments in sports franchises, golf-related companies, and entertainment properties. Portfolio includes McLaren Golf, PLATFORM Golf, CHIP'd Golf, Golf Traveller, Brisbane Bullets, and Detroit Amplifiers.
2. Sports Event Sponsorships: Revenue derived from title sponsorship of sports events including the GameAbove Sports Bowl, Detroit Sports Commission Golf Classic, and presenting sponsorship of the Michigan Women's Open.
3. Entertainment Content: Revenue from entertainment content production including the ECHL Unfiltered docuseries, distributed on streaming platforms like Roku and YouTube.
4. Philanthropic Giving: GameAbove Giving receives donations and allocates philanthropic investments to educational institutions and community programs, with over $38 million donated since 2019.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GameAbove is a privately held investment and brand company that deploys capital across sports franchise ownership, golf-focused portfolio investments, sports entertainment content production, and educational philanthropy. Its wholly-owned operating divisions include GameAbove Sports (BIG3 Detroit Amplifiers, NBL Brisbane Bullets, and golf portfolio companies), GameAbove Entertainment (sports docuseries and documentaries), GameAbove Golf (training facilities and golf properties), and GameAbove Giving (community and academic donations totaling over $38 million since 2019).

Product overview

GameAbove is a privately held global investment company with multiple divisions: GameAbove Sports (strategic sports investments and team ownership), GameAbove Entertainment (documentary and content production), GameAbove Golf (golf portfolio including McLaren Golf, PLATFORM Golf, CHIP'd Golf, and Golf Traveller), and GameAbove Giving (philanthropy). The company supports Eastern Michigan University through the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology and hosts the GameAbove Golf Invitational collegiate tournament. GameAbove also sponsors the GameAbove Sports Bowl (college football), Michigan Women's Open, and Detroit Sports Commission Golf Classic. Entertainment offerings include ECHL Unfiltered docuseries and the Iceman George Gervin documentary. The portfolio also includes youth programs (Pen PAL), the GameAbove Golf Performance Center, and BIG3 team ownership (Detroit Amplifiers).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GameAbove Sports Bowl: College football bowl game played at Ford Field in Detroit
• GameAbove Golf Invitational
• ECHL Unfiltered
• Detroit Amplifiers

Products and services

• ECHL Unfiltered All-access sports documentary series produced by GameAbove Entertainment that follows professional hockey (ECHL) teams through their seasons, distributed on streaming platforms including Roku and YouTube and recognized with a Regional Emmy nomination in the Sports Documentary category.
• Iceman (George Gervin documentary) George Gervin documentary produced by GameAbove Entertainment, distributed on the NBA App and NBA TV.
• Amp City Entertainment content produced by GameAbove Entertainment as part of its documentary and content slate.
• One More Swing Entertainment content produced by GameAbove Entertainment as part of its documentary and content slate.
• 100%, 100% Entertainment content produced by GameAbove Entertainment as part of its documentary and content slate.
• GameAbove Golf Performance Center World-class 13,000-square-foot indoor collegiate golf training facility at Eagle Crest Golf Course built with an $8 million GameAbove investment, supporting Eastern Michigan University's golf programs and serving as a hub for elite golf training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eastern Michigan women's golf reached NCAA Women's Golf Final Four for first time in program history with $17M+ NIL funding from GameAbove
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sports Travel Group / Golf TravellercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2024Strategic partnership and multi-million-dollar investment to expand Golf Traveller's operations throughout North America. Golf Traveller is a preferred international travel partner of Troon.
• Brisbane BulletscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2024GameAbove Sports acquired meaningful ownership stake in Brisbane Bullets, with NBA Legend George Gervin as part of the ownership team.
• Detroit Amplifiers (BIG3)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2024GameAbove Sports acquired fourth founding BIG3 expansion team, base in Detroit for 2025 season. Led by George Gervin with Joe Johnson on roster.
• Eastern Michigan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership since 2019 with over $20 million in total contributions including naming of GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology, golf facility and program support, and NIL funding.
• Detroit Sports CommissioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGameAbove returns as title sponsor of Detroit Sports Commission Golf Classic for second consecutive year, supporting signature sports-business event in Detroit.
• Detroit TigersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGameAbove Sports partnership expanding support for Detroit teams.
• Detroit PistonsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner expanding access to basketball experiences for youth across Michigan through Court of Dreams program.
• Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPen PAL program connecting EMU athletes with PAL youth through letter-writing. GameAbove also supports various PAL initiatives.
• ANNIKA Women's All-Pro Tour (WAPT)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMichigan Women's Open established as official ANNIKA WAPT event in 2026, providing exemptions to LPGA Epson Tour.
• Championship Golf NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing live streaming coverage of GameAbove Golf Invitational.
• Kovacs InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for global sports performance consultation supporting GameAbove Sports athletes.
• Coca-ColacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenting sponsor of 2026 Michigan Women's Open at Crystal Mountain.
• Crystal MountaincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for Michigan Women's Open, Mountain Ridge course named 2025 Michigan Golf Course of the Year.
• Gamers OutreachminorOthersDonated $100,000 to support gaming therapy for hospitalized youth; GameAbove partnered to deliver portable gaming kiosks to Trinity Health hospitals.
• First Tee of Greater DetroitminorOthersGameAbove Sports donated $20,000 to support youth golf initiatives in Metro Detroit.
• Bruton Basketball FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NBL legend Calvin Bruton to support youth basketball development in Australia, impacting over 500 young people.
• H-Farm International SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGameAbove Sports athletic scholarship program in Italy for rising soccer prospects.
• Aspen Country Day SchoolminorOthers$1 million gift to support teacher housing initiative, part of school's $25 million True to Tomorrow capital campaign.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RedBird Capital Partners: Sports-focused private investment firm with stakes in AC Milan, Liverpool FC, the IPL's Rajasthan Royals, and the YES Network. Directly comparable as a sports-centric investment holding company building diversified portfolios across teams, media, and entertainment.
• Arctos Sports Partners: Private equity firm that acquires minority stakes in professional sports franchises across the NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and European soccer. Directly comparable as a diversified sports investment holding company, though Arctos focuses exclusively on controlling or minority franchise equity.
• Bruin Capital Partners: Sports-focused private investment firm with holdings in sports media (Dream Sports, Tonal), team ownership, and sports-tech. Comparable as a diversified sports investment platform spanning equity, media, and emerging sports technology.

Broad incumbents

• Endeavor Group Holdings: Global sports and entertainment company spanning athlete representation (WME), events (UFC, PBR), and sports media. Comparable as a broad incumbent across the sports/entertainment verticals GameAbove targets through GameAbove Sports and GameAbove Entertainment.
• Oak View Group: Sports and entertainment infrastructure firm focused on venue development, sports advisory, and hospitality. Comparable as a sports investment and operations platform, though focused on facilities and live events rather than franchise equity or NIL-style development.
• Wasserman Group: Sports marketing, athlete representation, and entertainment agency. Comparable as a sports business platform with adjacency to GameAbove's sponsorship sales, athlete NIL funding, and entertainment content production.
• CVC Capital Partners: Global private equity firm with significant sports portfolio including Formula 1, La Liga, Volleyball World, and rugby investments. Comparable as a large incumbent operating sports investment funds, though at materially larger scale and with longer-hold fund structures.
• Topgolf Callaway Brands: Public golf equipment and entertainment company combining Callaway golf clubs with Topgolf venues. Comparable as a golf equipment/entertainment incumbent that competes with the same premium segment McLaren Golf and CHIP'd Golf are entering.

Emerging players

• Excel Sports Management: Athlete representation and sports marketing agency with golf (Henley, McIlroy advisory) and team consulting practices. Comparable for its sports marketing focus and golf category expertise intersecting with GameAbove Golf.
• Troon Golf: Largest golf management company in the world, operating over 630 courses and partnering with Golf Traveller (a GameAbove portfolio company) as a preferred international travel partner. Comparable through the golf hospitality and travel nexus GameAbove is building.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GameAboveEMU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gameabove
• Facebookfacebook.com/GameAbove
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gameabove
• Instagraminstagram.com/GameAbove

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GameAbove