United Sports Development Partners

What United Sports Development Partners does

United Sports Development Partners (USDP) is a privately held sports real estate and management company that operates as a master developer, management outsourcer, and advisor for stadium-anchored mixed-use real estate projects. The firm develops multi-purpose stadiums and surrounding mixed-use real estate, including retail, housing, and entertainment, working with USL team owners and municipal governments on public-private partnerships across the United States. Its signature engagement is the Stadium at Tidewater Landing, a 10,500-seat stadium under construction in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, with completion anticipated in Spring 2025 and accompanied by over 600 multifamily residential units and supporting retail.

USDP offers three core service lines: Lead Master Developer (assuming the leading role in master-planned stadium-anchored mixed-use developments, earning development fees and potentially equity participation), Management Outsource (executive leadership and management support for teams, stadiums, and sports ventures, including the Houston 2026 World Cup Host Committee), and Advisor (third-party expert support for stadium-anchored projects already underway). The firm's competitive position rests on an unusually deep senior team: Chris Canetti (former MLS Executive of the Year, 13-year Houston Dynamo President, 2026 World Cup bid leader) as President, Brett Johnson (Fortuitous Partners founder, Rhode Island FC and Phoenix Rising FC founder, Ipswich Town FC investor) as Founder and Board Member, Daniel Kroeber (PE-licensed civil engineer, 50+ athletic facilities delivered) as EVP/Chief Real Estate Officer, Daniel Zelson (founding principal of Charter Realty and Zelco Properties, 20M+ sq. ft. of leasing) as Founder and Board Member, and Greg Kalnit (ex-Brixmor/Regency Centers, $2B+ Manhattan multifamily acquisition experience) as SVP Investments. Strategic capital is provided by BellTower Partners and Zelco Properties & Development.

The business model combines project-based development fees (and potential equity participation) with recurring advisory and management fees. Customer segments are USL team owners, cities and local governments seeking economic development through sports infrastructure, and existing sports ventures requiring operational and advisory support. Distribution is direct enterprise engagement (no self-serve or productized channels), and USDP is described as operating without publicly disclosed pricing. The firm reports active engagement on stadium development projects across six U.S. states and identifies Rhode Island, Texas, Connecticut, and Montana among its operating geographies.

Name

United Sports Development Partners

Legal name

United Sports Development Partners

Website

https://unitedsportsdp.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

United Sports Development Partners is a private sports real estate firm that develops stadium-anchored mixed-use projects, manages sports ventures, and advises team owners and municipalities, serving USL team owners, city governments, and sports organizations across multiple U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Real Estate Development Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Major League Stadiums (MPAKAEAA)

Keywords

• Sports real estate development
• Stadium development services
• Mixed-use real estate
• Sports facility consulting
• Master developer services

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Master Developer Services: USDP serves as the lead master developer for stadium-anchored mixed-use development projects, earning development fees and potentially equity participation in the projects they lead.
2. Management and Advisory Services: Provides expert management support, advisory services, and consulting to teams, stadiums, and sports ventures for a fee.
3. Project Advisory: Third-party advisory and support services for stadium-anchored projects already underway, providing expert guidance to bring projects to successful completion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

United Sports Development Partners (USDP) is a sports-focused real estate and management firm that serves as lead master developer for stadium-anchored mixed-use projects, provides management outsourcing for teams and sports ventures, and offers advisory and consulting services for stadium-anchored developments already underway. The company develops multi-purpose stadiums paired with surrounding retail, housing, and entertainment real estate, and supports professional sports clubs (primarily USL soccer) and host cities.

Product overview

United Sports Development Partners (USDP) is a real estate and sports management company offering three core services: Lead Master Developer (stadium-anchored mixed-use development), Management Outsource (management support for sports ventures), and Advisor (consulting for existing stadium projects). The company develops multi-purpose stadiums and surrounding mixed-use real estate including retail, housing, and entertainment spaces. Key projects include The Stadium at Tidewater Landing in Pawtucket, RI (10,500-seat stadium with 600+ residential units), Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, and various university athletic facility projects. USDP also provides executive leadership for Houston's 2026 FIFA World Cup hosting efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lead Master Developer Lead master developer service in which USDP assumes the primary role in master planned development projects anchored by a stadium and surrounded by mixed-use real estate (retail, housing, entertainment). Targets USL team owners, host cities, and sports ventures seeking full-scale stadium-anchored developments.
• Management Outsource Outsourced executive management and operational support provided to teams, stadiums, and other sports ventures. Delivers experienced sports-management leadership to organizations that need operational expertise without a permanent in-house executive team.
• Advisor Third-party advisory and consulting service for stadium-anchored projects already in development or underway, providing expert guidance to bring them to successful completion. Targets project owners who need experienced oversight on complex stadium and mixed-use developments.
• Houston 2026 FIFA World Cup Executive Leadership and Management Services Executive leadership and management support delivered to the Houston 2026 World Cup Host Committee, with Chris Canetti serving as President of the Houston 2026 World Cup Organizing Committee. Targeted at a major-event organizing body needing senior sports management expertise.

Named customers5 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Zelco Properties & DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZelco Properties & Development is a full-service commercial real estate development company specializing in retail properties, mixed-use developments, and innovative leasing strategies. Zelco's vertically integrated platform identifies value creation and growth opportunities for all real estate product types. Dan Zelson is a founding principal.
• Fortuitous PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading investment firm focused on sports-anchored real estate, led by Brett Johnson as CEO and Founder. Dan Kroeber serves as Director of Development and Managing Director. Fortuitous Partners is the investment vehicle for Tidewater Landing and other stadium development projects.
• United Soccer League (USL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDP is proudly owned of teams within the USL and is committed to expanding the league's presence through new stadium projects across the U.S. USDP is currently collaborating with USL on stadium development projects in six states.
• City of Houston / Houston 2026 World Cup Host CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDP is providing executive leadership and management services for the Houston 2026 World Cup Host Committee efforts, supporting the largest sporting event in history. Chris Canetti serves as President of the Houston 2026 World Cup Organizing Committee.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• HOK: HOK is a global architecture, engineering, and planning firm with a significant sports venues practice (e.g., SoFi Stadium, Allegiant Stadium). It competes with USDP and Populous for stadium-related design and advisory work but serves a much broader client base.
• JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle): JLL is a global real estate services and investment firm with a dedicated sports and entertainment group advising on venue development, mixed-use, and team facilities. It is a broad incumbent comparable to USDP's advisory and investment management capabilities, though it operates across all asset classes.
• Gensler: Gensler is a large global architecture and design firm with sports and entertainment venue experience. It is a broad incumbent comparable to USDP's stadium practice, though Gensler's portfolio spans commercial real estate broadly.
• AECOM: AECOM is a global infrastructure design and development firm with a sports venues practice. It is a broad incumbent peer because it competes for large stadium development and advisory mandates, though its services span far beyond sports.

Direct peers

• Legends Hospitality: Legends Hospitality provides hospitality, merchandise, venue operations, and sponsorship services to sports and entertainment properties. It is comparable to USDP because both monetize sports venues through a mix of operating/management services and revenue-generating partnerships, although Legends focuses more on hospitality operations and USDP on development.
• Oak View Group: Oak View Group is a sports and entertainment venue development, management, and consulting firm that develops and operates arenas and stadiums globally. It is directly comparable to USDP because it operates in the same niche of stadium/venue development plus advisory and management services for sports clients.
• The Cordish Companies: Cordish is a real estate developer specializing in large-scale, sports- and entertainment-anchored mixed-use districts (e.g., Xfinity Live!, Power Plant Live!). It is a direct peer to USDP's stadium-anchored mixed-use development model because both develop mixed-use real estate built around sports venues.
• CAA ICON: CAA ICON is a sports facility advisory and planning firm that provides venue strategy, feasibility, and project advisory services to teams, leagues, and municipalities. It directly mirrors USDP's Project Advisory service line and targets the same buyer (team owners, cities, and stadium authorities).
• Populous: Populous is an architecture firm dedicated exclusively to designing sports venues, arenas, and convention centers worldwide. It is a direct peer because USDP's master developer role sits adjacent to Populous's specialized stadium architecture practice, and both compete for the same client set of team owners and municipalities.

Regional players

• Mid-America Real Estate Corporation: Mid-America Real Estate is a U.S. retail and mixed-use real estate services firm with deep municipal and developer relationships. It is a comparable peer in the mixed-use development and tenant lease execution capabilities USDP's team brings, though it is more retail-focused than sports-anchored.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 United Sports Development Partners