Sheely to Advise Firm and Portfolio Franchises across Sports Strategy

Arctos, a private investment firm that provides bespoke growth and liquidity solutions to sports franchises (Arctos Sports) and alternative asset managers (Arctos Keystone), today announced the appointment of Thad Sheely as an Operating Partner.

Arctos’ Operating Partners serve as strategic advisors across the Sports strategy, offering deep domain expertise and seasoned counsel to both the firm and its portfolio franchises. In this role, Sheely will draw on his extensive experience at the intersection of sports and real estate to strengthen Arctos’ value creation capabilities and support franchise partners as they navigate complex, high impact initiatives.

“Thad brings a rare combination of strategic vision and execution expertise in venue development,” said Doc O’Connor, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Arctos. “His track record transforming venues and optimizing arena and stadium operations will help our partners elevate the live fan experience and unlock value.”

Sheely brings over two decades of leadership in the development, financing, and innovation of sports and entertainment facilities. He will continue to advise the Washington Commanders on their new stadium search, including the recent announcement of a state-of-the-art venue and six million square feet mixed-used development on the former RFK Stadium site. As Chief Operating Officer and Head of Real Estate for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, Sheely led a $200 million renovation of State Farm Arena, which received acclaim for in-game experience, food and beverage quality, ticket sales growth, and sustainability. He also oversaw the developments of Emory Sports Medicine Complex and Gateway Arena. Prior to this, Sheely held senior real estate-focused executive roles with Related Companies, the New York Jets, and the Miami Heat.

“Arctos stands apart by combining a truly collaborative strategy with data-driven insights to help its partners unlock their full potential,” said Sheely. “I’m excited to work alongside this talented team, an exceptional group of advisors, and Arctos’ impressive portfolio of teams and franchises, especially at a time when real estate has become a key growth driver for the sports industry.”

About Arctos

Arctos is a private investment firm that provides bespoke growth and liquidity solutions, differentiated thought partnership, and value creation advice to sports franchises (Arctos Sports) and alternative asset managers, their funds, and portfolio companies (Arctos Keystone). Founded in 2019, Arctos serves as a catalyst for innovation and business transformation for its portfolio companies and its markets. The firm’s proprietary approach is anchored by its unique quantitative research and data science platform, Arctos Insights. Arctos has a team of more than 70 investment and operational professionals with investment and operating expertise across industries, geographies, and economic cycles. The firm is headquartered in Dallas, with office locations in New York, and London. For more information, visit www.arctospartners.com or Arctos’ company page on LinkedIn.

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