which sports teams are publicly traded

Only a relatively small number of professional sports teams are publicly traded. Most major sports franchises are privately owned by individuals, families, corporations, investment groups, or members of a club rather than having shares available on a stock exchange.

The best-known publicly traded sports teams are concentrated in soccer. As of 2026, notable publicly traded clubs include Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Celtic, Ajax, Benfica, Sporting CP, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş. There are also other listed sports organizations and clubs around the world.

Importantly, a publicly traded team is not necessarily the same thing as a sports team whose shares can be bought directly in the United States. Each club trades on its own exchange, and some have relatively limited trading volume.

What Does It Mean for a Sports Team to Be Publicly Traded?

A sports team is publicly traded when the company that owns or operates the team has shares listed on a public stock exchange.

Buying those shares gives an investor an ownership interest in the publicly listed company, subject to the company’s share structure and voting rights.

For example, Manchester United’s corporate parent, Manchester United plc, has Class A ordinary shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker MANU. The club’s Class B shares are not listed.

This is different from simply buying merchandise, becoming a club member, or purchasing a bond issued by a sports organization.

Major Publicly Traded Sports Teams

Here are some of the most recognizable publicly traded professional clubs:

The exact structure and trading symbols can change, so investors should verify the current listing with the relevant exchange or the club’s investor-relations department.

Manchester United

Manchester United is probably the most familiar publicly traded sports team to American investors.

Manchester United plc trades on the New York Stock Exchange under MANU. The company went public in August 2012. Its Class A shares are listed, while its Class B shares are not publicly listed.

Because the stock trades in New York, U.S. investors can potentially access it through a brokerage account that supports NYSE-listed securities.

Owning MANU stock does not mean that an investor personally owns a piece of Old Trafford or has direct control over team decisions. It means owning shares in Manchester United plc, the publicly listed corporate parent.

Borussia Dortmund

German soccer club Borussia Dortmund is another prominent publicly traded team.

Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA has ordinary shares admitted to trading on the Regulated Market, Prime Standard, of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The club’s official 2025–26 annual report states that all of its ordinary shares are admitted to trading.

The club’s official investor information identifies the stock ticker as BVB and lists Frankfurt and Xetra among its trading venues.

Borussia Dortmund is unusual because a famous European soccer club is directly represented by a listed company rather than being entirely privately held.

Juventus

Italian soccer giant Juventus is also publicly traded.

Juventus Football Club S.p.A. states that its ordinary shares are listed on Euronext Milan, which is operated by Borsa Italiana. The club’s share capital is divided into ordinary shares that are publicly listed.

Juventus is controlled by Exor, which remains the major shareholder, meaning publicly traded does not necessarily mean that the public owns a majority of the club.

This is an important distinction. A company can have publicly traded shares while a particular owner or controlling shareholder retains significant control.

Celtic

Scottish club Celtic is another publicly traded soccer organization.

Celtic plc has shares listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. The club’s investor-relations information says that three classes of shares are listed on AIM, with different rights attached to them.

Celtic therefore provides another example of a professional soccer club whose corporate structure allows public-market investors to own shares.

Ajax

Dutch club Ajax is also publicly traded.

AFC Ajax N.V. has shares traded on Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol AJAX. Euronext’s current market information lists AJAX as an equity security on the Amsterdam exchange.

Ajax’s corporate structure is somewhat different from a conventional publicly controlled company because the Association AFC Ajax holds a controlling shareholding. The club’s published corporate information has previously identified the association as holding 73% of the shares.

Therefore, investors can buy publicly traded Ajax shares without necessarily having control over the club.

Turkish Soccer Clubs

Turkey has several publicly traded soccer organizations.

Notable examples include:

• Fenerbahçe
• Galatasaray
• Beşiktaş
• Trabzonspor

Fenerbahçe’s shares trade on Borsa İstanbul, with the publicly traded B group shares under the FENER code. Current market disclosures show that the Fenerbahçe Sports Club remains a major shareholder.

Galatasaray Sportif Sınai ve Ticari Yatırımlar A.Ş. trades on Borsa İstanbul under GSRAY. Current exchange disclosures identify its B group shares as traded on the exchange.

Beşiktaş’s football investment company trades under BJKAS. The club’s official website provides financial information and stock-price information for Beşiktaş Futbol Yatırımları Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.

These structures can be complicated, so buying shares in the listed company does not necessarily provide the same control or membership rights as being a traditional club member.

Benfica and Sporting CP

Portugal also has publicly traded soccer organizations.

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol SAD is an issuer of shares admitted to trading on a regulated market, according to the club’s investor-relations information.

Benfica’s professional football company, Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, SAD, also operates as a corporate entity with investor-relations and capital-market disclosures.

However, investors should distinguish between publicly traded shares and publicly traded bonds. Benfica, for example, has issued bonds that are admitted to trading on Euronext Lisbon. A bond is debt rather than an ownership share.

That distinction matters when researching sports investments.

Why Are So Few Sports Teams Publicly Traded?

Professional sports teams can be valuable businesses, but public ownership is not the standard model.

Many owners prefer private ownership because it can provide greater control over:

• Team decisions
• Stadium development
• Player acquisitions
• Business strategy
• Ownership transfers
• Long-term investment

Some clubs, particularly in European soccer, have chosen public listings to raise capital or give existing owners and shareholders a way to trade their interests.

Public ownership can also create additional financial reporting and corporate-governance obligations.

Why Would a Sports Team Go Public?

There are several potential reasons.

Raising Capital

A public offering can raise money for a company. A sports organization might use capital for infrastructure, debt management, business expansion, or other corporate purposes.

Increasing Visibility

A stock-market listing can increase the financial visibility of a sports organization.

Giving Investors Liquidity

A publicly traded share can provide shareholders with a market where they can potentially buy or sell their holdings.

Allowing Fans to Invest

A public listing can give supporters an opportunity to become shareholders, although owning shares does not necessarily give them traditional membership rights.

Are U.S. Sports Teams Publicly Traded?

Very few major U.S. professional sports teams are directly publicly traded.

The major American leagues generally use private ownership structures.

The Green Bay Packers are a famous exception in terms of public ownership, but they are not publicly traded like an ordinary stock-market company. The Packers have conducted limited stock sales to supporters, but those shares do not trade on a public stock exchange.

That distinction is critical.

A team can have thousands or millions of owners without being a publicly traded company.

Green Bay Packers: Publicly Owned, But Not Publicly Traded

The Packers are often misunderstood in discussions about sports stocks.

Green Bay is a nonprofit corporation owned by shareholders. The organization has conducted several stock offerings throughout its history.

However, Packers stock is not listed on a stock exchange and cannot be bought and sold like ordinary publicly traded shares.

There is no Packers stock ticker that you can enter into a conventional brokerage account.

So if someone asks which sports teams are publicly traded, the Packers generally should not be placed in the same category as Manchester United or Borussia Dortmund.

Why Aren’t the Dallas Cowboys Publicly Traded?

The Dallas Cowboys are privately owned rather than being a stock-market company.

The same basic concept applies to most famous NFL franchises.

Teams such as the:

• Dallas Cowboys
• Kansas City Chiefs
• New England Patriots
• San Francisco 49ers
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Philadelphia Eagles

do not have ordinary publicly traded team shares on a major stock exchange.

Their owners can include individuals, families, partnerships, and investment entities, but the public cannot simply buy a piece of the franchise through a stock ticker.

What About NBA Teams?

NBA teams are also generally privately owned.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, and other NBA franchises do not have ordinary publicly traded team stocks.

An investor can buy shares in companies connected to sports, such as media companies, apparel businesses, sports-betting companies where legally available, or venue-related businesses, but that is different from directly owning an NBA team through a stock exchange.

What About MLB Teams?

Major League Baseball franchises are generally privately held as well.

The New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and other MLB teams do not offer ordinary publicly traded shares to the general public.

The same distinction applies to the NFL, NBA, NHL, and most MLS franchises.

Why Publicly Traded Sports Stocks Can Be Risky

Buying a sports-team stock is not the same as buying a diversified company.

Sports organizations can be unusually sensitive to events such as:

• Winning or losing
• Player injuries
• Player transfers
• Coaching changes
• Relegation
• Qualification for European competitions
• Television contracts
• Sponsorship deals
• Stadium developments
• Ownership changes

A soccer club can have a particularly volatile financial profile because sporting success can have a major impact on revenue.

For example, qualification for major European competitions can significantly affect a club’s financial results, while relegation can have the opposite effect.

That makes sports stocks a specialized investment rather than a straightforward substitute for a diversified portfolio.

Does Publicly Traded Mean the Team Is a Good Investment?

No.

Being publicly traded only means that shares are available through a public market. It does not guarantee that the stock will increase in value.

An investor should consider:

• Revenue
• Profitability
• Debt
• Share structure
• Valuation
• Cash flow
• Ownership control
• Competition
• Sporting performance
• Market liquidity
• Currency risk
• League economics

Sports fandom and investment decisions are also very different.

You might love a team and still decide that its stock is not attractive at a particular price.

Can You Buy Sports Team Stocks in the United States?

Some can be accessed relatively easily.

Manchester United is the clearest example because its Class A shares trade on the NYSE under MANU.

Other clubs trade on European exchanges, so U.S. investors may need a brokerage that provides access to international markets.

Availability, fees, currency conversion, trading hours, liquidity, and tax treatment can differ.

Before purchasing an international sports stock, investors should check how their brokerage handles foreign securities and understand the applicable risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

which sports teams are publicly traded?

Notable publicly traded sports teams include Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Celtic, Ajax, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Benfica, and Sporting CP. Most publicly traded sports clubs are soccer organizations.

Is Manchester United publicly traded?

Yes. Manchester United plc has Class A shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange under MANU.

Is Real Madrid publicly traded?

No. Real Madrid is not a conventional publicly traded company whose shares trade on a stock exchange. Its ownership structure is based on club members rather than publicly traded stock.

Is Barcelona publicly traded?

No. FC Barcelona is not publicly traded on a stock exchange. Like Real Madrid, it has a member-based ownership structure.

Is the Green Bay Packers stock publicly traded?

No. Packers stock is publicly offered during specific offerings but is not listed on a stock exchange. It cannot be traded like ordinary public-company shares.

Can you buy shares in Borussia Dortmund?

Yes. Borussia Dortmund shares are admitted to trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, including the Prime Standard segment.

Can you buy shares in Juventus?

Yes. Juventus ordinary shares are listed on Euronext Milan.

Are NFL teams publicly traded?

NFL teams are generally privately owned rather than publicly traded. The Green Bay Packers have a unique public-ownership structure, but their shares are not exchange-traded.

Conclusion

So, which sports teams are publicly traded? The most prominent examples are Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Celtic, Ajax, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Benfica, and Sporting CP, along with several other professional clubs around the world.

Most publicly traded sports teams are soccer clubs, particularly in Europe. Manchester United is the standout example for U.S. investors because its Class A shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under MANU.

It is also important to distinguish publicly traded from publicly owned. The Green Bay Packers have a unique shareholder structure but are not a stock-market company, while publicly listed clubs such as Borussia Dortmund have shares that actually trade on an exchange.

For anyone considering a sports-team stock, the team name is only the starting point. The corporate structure, exchange, share class, voting rights, valuation, financial performance, and risks all matter before making an investment decision.