CLUB UNDERDOG POWERED BY N6 ACQUIRES INTEREST IN FAST-GROWING SOCCER APPAREL AND SPORTSWEAR COMPANY DIAZA
NEW YORK and MIAMI
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June 26, 2024 01:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Club Underdog, a subsidiary of North Sixth Group, today announced it has reached an agreement in principle to acquire a significant ownership stake in fast-growing soccer apparel and sportswear company Diaza.
Founded in 2018 by Colombian professional soccer player Diego Hurtado, Diaza has grown to become one of the most disruptive brands in the soccer apparel and sportswear industry. With its signature #DiazaMentality commitment to customer service, family and quality, Diaza currently outfits more than 500 professional, amateur and semi-professional clubs and youth academies in nearly a dozen countries across the United States, Europe and South America.
“We have been impressed with Diaza’s growth under the leadership of Diego, and we share many of the same values as it relates to customer commitment and work ethic,” said Matt Rizzetta, Founding Partner and Chairman of North Sixth Group, parent company of Club Underdog. “We view this as a highly strategic acquisition which adds differentiation, innovation and accretive value to our portfolio of professional franchises and sports assets.”
Under its Club Underdog subsidiary, North Sixth Group has a successful track record achieving sporting and business results for professional soccer clubs and franchises with rich tradition in strategic locations with high upside potential.
“We are honored to be joining the Club Underdog family and to be a part of something bigger,” said Diego Hurtado, Founder and CEO of Diaza. “I founded this company six years ago with a vision to bring passion, commitment and relentless focus on the customer, which we felt was lacking from the larger apparel providers in the global soccer landscape. We believe the combination of Diaza’s experience in the apparel category along with Club Underdog’s track record owning and operating successful businesses inside and outside of sports, will be a winning combination that will pave the path for the future of how soccer apparel is worn and enjoyed by players and clubs across the world.”
Partners in the ownership group include visionary entrepreneur Morgan Harris, media and sports expert Matt Rizzetta, and private equity industry veteran Daniel Hall.
“Diego is a rare breed of entrepreneur that has the grit and determination to succeed in business today,” said Morgan Harris, Founding Partner and CEO of North Sixth Group, parent company of Club Underdog. “This aligns perfectly with the operating principles of Club Underdog and we are honored to have Diaza join us on our common vision to propel the social, commercial and competitive benefits of soccer forward both in the United States and abroad.”
“We see several operational and financial synergies and value creation drivers by integrating Diaza into our Club Underdog platform of professional football assets,” said Daniel Hall, partner in Club Underdog. “By bringing Diaza into Club Underdog, we are able to add diversified revenue streams generated through merchandising offerings as well as bring in-house apparel production capabilities that are unique and differentiated from traditional sports ownership groups.”
Representing North Sixth Group on the transaction were Simone Calzolai, Esq. in the European Union, and Dave Barry in the United States. Closing of the transaction is expected to occur within 30 days.
ABOUT DIAZA
Diaza is a term derived from Colombian tradition that signifies passion, endurance and effort. The brand was launched in 2018 and has since grown to outfit more than 500 professional clubs and youth academies across the world. With its signature #DiazaMentality approach to customer service, Diaza boasts a loyal following of thousands of players, coaches and clubs who rely on their apparel and sportswear products for world-class quality, personalization and comfort.
ABOUT CLUB UNDERDOG POWERED BY N6
Club Underdog is a multi-club sports entity wholly owned and operated by North Sixth Group, a New York and Los Angeles-based family office operating company. Under its ownership are historic sports clubs and assets including Campobasso FC, Dagenham & Redbridge FC, and Brooklyn FC. North Sixth Group became one of the first foreign ownership groups in history to achieve back-to-back promotions with Italian side Campobasso FC, bringing the club from the fifth tier to Serie C in just two years. In 2023, the group also made history as the first ownership group to bring an expansion football franchise to the Borough of Brooklyn. Kicking off in USL Super League and USL Championship in 2024 and 2025 respectively, Brooklyn FC is one of the only sports franchises in the United States to include a professional men’s and women’s team under the same platform.
Contact Details
Club Underdog
Zak Hawke
+1 717-756-7536
