Machete Group

What Machete Group does

Machete Group is a Houston-based advisory and development firm founded in 2007 by David Carlock, specializing in sports venue and adjacent mixed-use real estate development. The firm operates through three engagement models — owner's representative, at-risk developer, or both simultaneously — serving sports franchise owners, real estate developers, and municipal governments. With offices in Houston and projects spanning the U.S., U.K., France, and China, Machete Group has completed over $5 billion in sports and entertainment advisory and development work since inception.

The company's core offerings span three professional service streams: advisory services (strategic guidance from concept to completion), development management (oversight of design, construction, and delivery of complex venues and mixed-use districts), and principal development (at-risk co-developer and co-financing roles). There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering is fundamentally people-based and relationship-driven. Core competencies include deep league and team relationships across MiLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL, Olympics, Premier League, and WNBA venues, complemented by venue operations expertise (logistics, staffing, security, guest experience) and mastery of mixed-use real estate development at scale.

Machete Group's revenue model is professional services fee-based, supplemented by principal development upside from co-investment positions in projects it co-develops. Pricing is project-specific and quote-based, with engagements structured as custom advisory or development management contracts. The client base is concentrated among large institutional sports franchise owners (Orlando Magic, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, FC Cincinnati) and consortia such as Diamond Baseball Holdings. Active flagship projects include the $500 million Westcourt Orlando mixed-use district, the $250 million Louisville Sports Entertainment District, and the $110 million CarMax Park in Richmond's Diamond District.

Name

Machete Group

Legal name

Machete Group

Website

https://machetegroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Machete Group is a Houston-based advisory and development firm founded in 2007 that specializes in sports venue and adjacent mixed-use real estate projects. It serves sports franchise owners, developers, and municipalities, with over $5 billion in completed projects across major U.S. and international leagues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Advisory Services: Consulting and advisory services for sports venue and mixed-use real estate development projects, providing strategic guidance from concept to completion.
2. Development Management: Project development management services overseeing design, construction, and delivery of complex sports and entertainment venues.
3. Principal Development: At-risk development services where the firm takes ownership position in projects, co-developing and co-financing sports and entertainment districts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Machete Group is an advisory and development firm that leads complex sports venue (arenas, stadiums, ballparks) and adjacent mixed-use real estate projects from concept through completion. The firm operates as an owner's representative, at-risk developer, or both simultaneously, providing strategic guidance, capital structuring, project financing, design/construction oversight, and venue operations advisory. Its work spans major U.S. sports leagues and international markets, delivering flagship projects such as Westcourt Orlando, the Louisville Sports Entertainment District, and CarMax Park.

Product overview

Machete Group is a sports and entertainment real estate advisory and development firm that operates as a single integrated service offering rather than a platform with separate modules. The company's core services encompass sports venue development (arenas, stadiums, ballparks), mixed-use district development, and venue operations advisory—all delivered through owner's representation, at-risk development, or development management roles. Key projects include Westcourt Orlando (a $500 million mixed-use district with hotel, residential, office, and entertainment components), the Louisville Sports Entertainment District ($250 million mixed-use development), and CarMax Park ($110 million baseball stadium). With over $5 billion in completed projects, the firm serves sports franchise owners, developers, and municipalities worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sports & Entertainment Venue Development Advisory and development services for arenas, stadiums, and live entertainment venues, delivered via owner's representation and at-risk development models for sports franchise owners, developers, and municipalities.
• Mixed-Use District Development Planning, programming, and execution of sports venue-adjacent mixed-use real estate districts, integrating residential, office, hospitality, and retail components for team owners and developers.
• Venue Operations Advisory Expert advisory in venue operations including logistics, staffing, security, guest experiences, and event management for large-scale live entertainment spaces.
• Westcourt Orlando An 8.5-acre, 900,000-square-foot mixed-use sports and entertainment district adjacent to the Kia Center in downtown Orlando, featuring a Kimpton hotel, live events venue, residential towers, office space, and retail.
• Louisville Sports Entertainment District A $250 million, 500,000-square-foot mixed-use development adjacent to Louisville Slugger Field, featuring 225 apartments, a 170-room boutique hotel, office space, retail, and a revitalized stadium entrance.
• CarMax Park / Richmond Flying Squirrels Stadium A $110 million, 10,000-seat Double-A baseball stadium for the Richmond Flying Squirrels, serving as the centerpiece of the 67-acre Diamond District development.

Quantifiable outcome

• $5 billion+ in sports and entertainment advisory and development work completed
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Live NationminorOthers · 15 September 2025Live Nation is executing a billion-dollar venue investment program developing mid-sized indoor music halls in partnership with sports venue operators. While not a formal partnership, both organizations operate in the sports and entertainment venue development ecosystem, with Live Nation expanding venue development in markets including Orlando where Machete Group operates.
• Gilbane Building Co.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 May 2025Rhode Island-based construction firm partnering with Prestige Construction Group to build CarMax Park in Richmond. Gilbane Building Co. brings experience in complex stadium/venue construction projects.
• Prestige Construction GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 May 2025Virginia-based construction firm partnering with Gilbane Building Co. to build CarMax Park in Richmond. The joint venture represents the construction delivery partner for the $110 million ballpark project.
• Diamond Baseball HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 December 2024Joint venture partnership for $250 million Louisville Sports Entertainment District. Diamond Baseball Holdings, owner of the Louisville Bats Minor League Baseball team, partnered with Machete Group to develop 500,000 square feet of mixed-use space on a surface parking lot adjacent to Slugger Field. Project includes 225 apartments, 170-room boutique hotel, offices, retail, and new stadium entrance.
• Orlando MagiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 August 2024Orlando Magic holds 20% stake in Westcourt development adjacent to Kia Center. Magic entities acquired most of the project's land starting in 2013. The Magic's in-market relationships help drive leasing and event business for the 8.5-acre mixed-use district.
• Kimpton Hotels & Resorts (IHG)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 August 2024Kimpton Hotels & Resorts, under IHG Hotels & Resorts umbrella, will operate the 261-room, 11-story hotel at Westcourt Orlando. The hotel features 16,000+ sq ft of meeting space, full-service restaurant, lobby bar, cafe, pool, and pool bar/lounge. Kimpton brings boutique hotel expertise expected to reset the upscale category in Orlando.
• JMA VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2023San Francisco-based real estate development firm partnered with Machete Group as co-developers and co-financiers for the $500 million Westcourt project in Orlando. JMA Ventures brings experience from Kimpton Sawyer Hotel at Downtown Commons in Sacramento. The partnership combines JMA's real estate development expertise with Machete Group's sports venue experience.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Large global architecture and design firm with sports and entertainment venue experience and a broader mixed-use development practice. Competes with Machete for sports-anchored district masterplanning and venue advisory engagements.
• Buro Happold: Global engineering and advisory consultancy with significant sports venue and large-scale mixed-use development experience. Frequently engaged alongside Machete's venue development projects as a technical partner or competitor.
• HKS: Global architecture firm with a deep sports practice (AT&T Stadium, US Bank Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium). Operates at greater scale than Machete and offers integrated design plus advisory capabilities for venue owners.

Direct peers

• Legends Hospitality: Provides advisory, hospitality, and venue operations services to sports and entertainment properties. Comparable to Machete's combined venue development plus operations advisory offering, particularly for stadium and arena clients.
• WATG: Hospitality and entertainment venue design and advisory firm with experience in integrated resort, arena, and entertainment district projects. Overlaps with Machete's mixed-use district and live entertainment venue advisory work.
• ASM Global: World's largest venue management company operating arenas, stadiums, and convention centers. Adjacent to Machete's venue operations advisory practice and often a counterparty or competitor on the same team and municipality mandates.
• CAA ICON: Sports and entertainment venue advisory and project management firm. Closest direct competitor to Machete Group's owner's-representation and venue development management services, serving the same team owners, leagues, and developers.
• MEIS Architects: Specialist sports venue architecture firm focused on stadiums, arenas, and ballparks. Comparable niche focus to Machete within sports venue delivery and competes for similar team and municipality clients.
• Populous: Premier sports venue architecture firm designing many of the world's flagship stadiums and arenas. Competes with Machete at the front end of venue development and frequently partners or competes with owner's-rep firms on the same projects.

Others

• Mortenson Construction: Major U.S. construction firm with a leading sports venue practice (U.S. Bank Stadium, Chase Center, Allegiant Stadium). Functions as an implementation partner on many of the same projects Machete advises, occasionally competing for owner's-rep or development management scopes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/machetegroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/machetegroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/machete-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Machete Group