THE·TEAM

What THE·TEAM does

THE·TEAM (formerly Wasserman, founded 2001) is a privately held global sports, music, and entertainment company providing talent representation, marketing services, and live event management. The firm represents professional athletes across all major sports including basketball, baseball, football (NFL and global soccer), hockey, golf, tennis, cycling, rugby, action sports, and Olympics/Paralympics; musicians and artists through MUSIC·TEAM; entertainment talent through Brillstein Entertainment Partners; and digital creators through CREATORS·TEAM. Named clients include Connor McDavid, Diana Taurasi, Alex Morgan, Tony Finau, and Steph Strings.

The business operates as a federation of specialized divisions rather than a single platform: CYCLING·TEAM, GOLF·TEAM, RUGBY·TEAM, LIVE·TEAM, DIGITAL·TEAM, RIGHTS SALES·TEAM, SPEAKERS·TEAM, and The Collective (women in sports/music/entertainment). Revenue is generated primarily through commission-based fees on player contracts, endorsement deals, sponsorship arrangements, and event bookings; secondary revenue streams include event sponsorship, hospitality, and ticketing for owned golf tournaments (Valero Texas Open, World Wide Technology Championship, Grant Thornton Invitational, CME Group Tour Championship) plus marketing services for brands and properties. Pricing is quote-driven and not publicly disclosed.

Distribution is global enterprise field sales through dedicated vertical teams and 70+ offices across 28 countries. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with an aggressive acquisition roll-up strategy—14 acquisitions completed or announced between 2021 and 2026, including Paradigm Music (2021), The Montag Group (2022), CSM Sport and Entertainment (2023), Brillstein (2023), bluemedia (2025), Provisions Golf (2026), and a stake in Italian football agency GG11 (2026). Providence Equity Partners provided institutional capital in November 2022 to fund the build-out. The company rebranded from Wasserman to THE·TEAM in 2026 and is reportedly exploring a sale process, with founder Casey Wasserman announcing plans to step aside.

Name

THE·TEAM

Legal name

THE.TEAM: SME, LLC

Website

https://the.team

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

THE·TEAM is a global sports, music, and entertainment company providing commission-based talent representation, marketing services, and live event management for professional athletes, musicians, entertainers, and brands across 28 countries through dedicated divisions including CYCLING·TEAM, GOLF·TEAM, MUSIC·TEAM, and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports, Music and Entertainment Talent Representation Services

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Athlete Talent Agencies (Contract Negotiation & Career Management) (MPAKAMAA)

Keywords

• Sports talent representation
• Music artist management
• Entertainment talent agency
• Sports marketing services
• Brand sponsorship activation

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Talent Representation & Commission: THE·TEAM earns commissions from representing athletes, musicians, and entertainers in contract negotiations, endorsements, and appearances. Revenue derived from percentage-based fees on player contracts, sponsorship deals, and booking fees.
2. Marketing & Brand Partnership Services: Revenue from marketing services provided to brands and properties, including sponsorship activation, brand campaigns, and experiential marketing through LIVE·TEAM and other divisions.
3. Event Creation & Management: THE·TEAM creates and operates golf events including Valero Texas Open, World Wide Technology Championship, Grant Thornton Invitational, and CME Group Tour Championship. Revenue from event sponsorship, hospitality, and ticketing.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

THE·TEAM is a global talent representation and marketing company serving the sports, music, and entertainment industries. It represents professional athletes, musicians, entertainers, and digital creators across more than a dozen sport and creative verticals, negotiating contracts, endorsements, and brand partnerships. The company also provides marketing services to brands seeking to activate with premium talent and creates, owns, and operates live sports events such as PGA TOUR golf tournaments.

Product overview

THE·TEAM (formerly Wasserman) is a global sports, music, and entertainment company providing representation and marketing services. The company operates as a platform of specialized divisions rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include Sports & Media Talent Representation (spanning Baseball, Basketball, Action & Adventure Sports, Cycling, Global Football/Soccer, Golf, Hockey, NFL, Olympics & Paralympics, Rugby, and Coaching/Executive Office), Music Talent Representation, Entertainment talent management through Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Creator representation, Marketing services, Live Events, Rights Sales, and Premium Access. Key branded divisions include CYCLING·TEAM, GOLF·TEAM, LIVE·TEAM, DIGITAL·TEAM, NEXT GEN·TEAM, RIGHTS SALES·TEAM, SPEAKERS·TEAM, and The Collective (advancing women in sports, music, and entertainment). The company also operates LIVE·TEAM as its event creation and branding division, which has recently expanded through acquisitions of Desert Roots and Sport Signage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Collective: Initiative advancing the power of women in sports, music and entertainment
• CYCLING·TEAM
• RUGBY·TEAM
• LIVE·TEAM
• SPORTS & MEDIA
• MUSIC·TEAM
• CREATORS·TEAM
• SPOKERS·TEAM
• Brillstein Entertainment Partners
• GOLF·TEAM

Products and services

• Sports & Media Talent Representation Multi-vertical talent representation service for professional athletes, coaches, and sports executives, providing contract negotiation, endorsement facilitation, sponsorship activation, and post-career planning.
• Music Talent Representation Representation service for musicians, artists, and touring performers covering tour booking, festival placement, brand sponsorships, and artist development across genres and geographies.
• Entertainment Talent Management (Brillstein Entertainment Partners) Entertainment industry talent management and production services for actors, writers, directors, comedians, authors, and producers, delivered through the Brillstein Entertainment Partners division acquired in 2023.
• Creator Representation (CREATORS·TEAM) Representation service for digital creators, gamers, podcasters, and personalities in the creator economy, covering brand partnerships, audience growth, monetization, and business ventures.
• Marketing & Brand Partnership Services Marketing services provided to brands and properties, including sponsorship activation, brand campaigns, and experiential marketing, leveraging access to THE·TEAM's represented talent and owned events.
• Live Events (LIVE·TEAM) Event creation, ownership, and management services encompassing the Valero Texas Open, World Wide Technology Championship, Grant Thornton Invitational, CME Group Tour Championship, and other tournaments, plus branding and signage offerings (following Desert Roots and Sport Signage acquisitions).
• Speakers Bureau (SPEAKERS·TEAM) Bureau service booking represented athletes, coaches, and executives as keynote speakers at conferences, corporate events, universities, and trade associations.
• Rights Sales (RIGHTS SALES·TEAM) Rights sales service brokering media, sponsorship, and licensing rights tied to represented talent, events, and properties.
• Premium Access Distinct premium-access offering providing clients curated hospitality, experiences, and access associated with THE·TEAM's talent and events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ #1 overall picks across major sports drafts
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, major, core and potential.

• Desert RootssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026LIVE·TEAM acquired Desert Roots, a branding and signage business, expanding THE·TEAM's live events and branding capabilities.
• Breeders' CupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026THE·TEAM and Breeders' Cup joined forces to accelerate commercial partnerships, combining THE·TEAM's marketing expertise with Breeders' Cup's horse racing event.
• GG11coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026THE·TEAM acquired a significant ownership stake in Italian football talent representation business GG11. Founded in 2007 by Gabriele Giuffrida, GG11 operates from Rome and Milan with established relationships with all major football clubs in Italy, representing players including Guglielmo Vicario, Radu Drăgușin, and Hamed Traorè. The acquisition strengthens THE·TEAM's global agent network.
• Provisions GolfcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026THE·TEAM acquired Provisions Golf, expanding its golf division capabilities and event management services.
• People in Sport (Denmark)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious acquisition in Denmark, part of THE·TEAM's growth strategy to build global agent network across 28 countries.
• International Football Management (Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious acquisition in Switzerland, part of THE·TEAM's growth strategy to build global agent network across 28 countries.
• SportPlus (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious acquisition in Belgium, part of THE·TEAM's growth strategy to build global agent network across 28 countries.
• The CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Collective is a division of THE·TEAM focused on advancing the power of women in sports, music and entertainment. It conducts global studies and provides resources for female talent representation.
• Sport SignagesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIVE·TEAM acquired Sport Signage, a leading branding business, expanding THE·TEAM's live events branding and signage services.
• Excel Sports ManagementpotentialStrategic or Co-development PartnerExcel Sports Management and WIN Artists announced a commercial partnership. Both companies are among potential buyers circling THE·TEAM (formerly Wasserman), which is being sold after founder Casey Wasserman announced plans to step aside.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Creative Artists Agency (CAA): CAA is the largest global talent and sports agency, representing athletes, musicians, actors and brands across essentially every vertical where THE·TEAM competes. It is the most direct scaled competitor in sports representation, marketing and entertainment.
• United Talent Agency (UTA): UTA is a major talent and literary agency expanding into sports and creator representation. Its broad entertainment and growing athlete business position it as a comparable scaled competitor to THE·TEAM's entertainment and creator arms.
• Endeavor (WME / TKO Group Holdings): Endeavor's WME division and IMG legacy make it a direct competitor in athlete representation, brand marketing, events and entertainment. TKO Group adds UFC/WWE rights and content, broadening its sports footprint against THE·TEAM.

Direct peers

• Sportfive: Sportfive is a global sports marketing and rights agency operating across sponsorship, events and athlete management. Its international footprint makes it one of the closest European comparables to THE·TEAM's global sports representation and marketing platform.
• Excel Sports Management: Excel is a leading sports-focused talent agency representing golfers, tennis players and other athletes. Publicly named as a potential acquirer of THE·TEAM and competes head-to-head for elite athlete clients, especially in golf.
• Roc Nation: Roc Nation operates across athlete representation, music management and entertainment — a multi-vertical model closely paralleling THE·TEAM's sports/music/entertainment platform, particularly in music representation and brand partnerships.
• Wasserman (legacy brand) / WIN Sports: WIN Artists / WIN Sports is a sports-focused talent agency named as a potential acquirer of THE·TEAM. It represents athletes across multiple sports and competes directly for client rosters that THE·TEAM also targets.
• Octagon: Octagon is a global sports marketing and athlete representation firm offering sponsorship consulting, event management and talent representation — directly overlapping THE·TEAM's marketing, events and athlete businesses.

Emerging players

• Independent Sports & Entertainment (ISE): ISE provides athlete representation, brand consulting and NIL services. It is an emerging challenger in the broader sports agency space overlapping with THE·TEAM's NFL and basketball practices.
• Range Sports: Range Sports is a newer sports talent agency founded by former Excel executives, focused on athlete representation and marketing. It is an emerging direct competitor for agent talent and clients in THE·TEAM's core sports representation verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the%C2%B7team-co/posts/?feedView=all
• Instagraminstagram.com/the.team.co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

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

M&A14 records

Investments7 records

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

Frequently asked questions about THE·TEAM