ACG Houston May Luncheon

Lyle Ayes is the founder and CEO of Verance Capital, an investment firm focused on early and growth stage investment opportunities in the sports, media and live entertainment sectors.  Lyle also serves as Vice Chairman of the Houston Dynamo, where he oversees the long-term strategy and business operations of the club and its affiliates.

Prior to launching Verance Capital, Lyle was an Operating Partner at RedBird Capital Partners, where he focused on deals in the sports and media sectors.  Lyle previously served as Head of Sports Advisory for LionTree Advisors, a TMT-focused merchant bank. Earlier in his career, Lyle was a Managing Director of Evercore’s corporate advisory business and co-head of the firm’s Sports practice, as well as an Executive Director of Morgan Stanley’s Mergers & Acquisitions Department.

Lyle has received recognition as one of the Sports Business Journal's 2016 Power Players: Advisory, as well as the Sports Business Journal’s 2015 Forty Under 40 award, which recognizes top sports executives.  Lyle has also been a Forbes 30 Under 30 judge, and a featured panelist at the Bloomberg Sports Summit and MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.

Lyle received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado where he graduated summa cum laude, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School where he graduated cum laude.

Michael Rapkoch is the Managing Director of Texas Corporate Capital Advisors, a boutique investment bank, and founder/CEO of Sports Value Consulting. For over twenty years, he has focused exclusively on serving clients in the Professional Sports Industry, working on over 200 engagements across North America and England.

Engagements have included sell-side advisory work, buy-side advisory work, valuation of teams (control and minority), stadium negotiations, and naming rights negotiations. He has also been called upon to be an expert witness, including acting on behalf of the NHL. His firm has worked with Leagues, Banks, Team Owners, Prospective Investors, and Law Firms. He has worked with teams in all major leagues; NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, EPL, MLS, NWSL, EFL, and several minor leagues.

Mr. Rapkoch holds several designations including the Series 63, 79, and 24 licenses with FINRA. He is also an Accredited Senior Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers.

Michael Rapkoch has dedicated himself to aiding local nonprofits, schools and charitable institutions in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area. Mr. Rapkoch is passionate about improving the quality of life for a variety of individuals, from local high school students to victims of domestic violence. He previously chaired an effort to improve low-income housing as part of Hearts and Hammers, which helps to refurbish qualifying homes owned by Dallas residents. His work was recognized by the Mayor of Dallas with a plaque commemorating his involvement and dedication. Other institutions he has worked with include Scottish Rite Hospital and the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

The Rapkoch Family has been and continues to be the lead underwriter for The Storehouse’s annual Thanksgiving Distribution. The Storehouse has provided entire Thanksgiving meals to over 15,000 families over this period, including over 3,900 in 2022. The Storehouse provides food, clothing and other services for over 5,000 families each month.  Whether he is lending his time or financial aid, Mr. Rapkoch continues to find new ways to aid nonprofits and charities throughout the area.

Additionally, he a licensed soccer coach with the U.S. Soccer Federation and has coached numerous local youth soccer teams. He previously served on the Plano Sports Association Soccer Board.