Mike Buckley Discusses U.S. SailGP Team On NYSE Floor Talk
CEO and Co-owner Mike Buckley discussed the growth of the U.S. SailGP Team and SailGP on NYSE Floor Talk with Judy Shaw…
Published 06/3/2025
Mike Buckley says it was missing the feeling of competition that drove him to invest in the U.S. SailGP Team in
November 2023, along with Ryan and Margaret McKillen
.Speaking to Judy Shaw on Floor Talk when the U.S. SailGP Team was invited to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange recently, Mike discussed his journey from world champion sailor to CEO and Co-owner.
He said: “I’ve spent almost 20 years competing, and I’d find myself on Monday mornings – whether I won or got my butt kicked – feeling the same way: I missed the competition. I started looking at other athletes and remember hearing LeBron (James) talk about wanting to be more than just an athlete. I got interested in how athletes commercialized themselves, their teams, their businesses.
“For me, this is a way to keep competing 24/7. As I approach the end of my racing career, it allows me to stay involved. I love the business side – bringing in new partners, marketing, building a team culture both on and off the water. This lets me do that every day.”
A big part of that process has been putting together a star-studded field of backers and board members from the worlds of sport, entertainment and beyond – including GRAMMY award-winning artist DJ Khaled, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn and actress Issa Rae.
Mike sees the synergy between those different worlds as a strength for the U.S. SailGP Team – something to be tapped into at every opportunity.
“I’ve been working on this for six or seven years, trying to build a commercially sustainable team,” Mike explained. “It’s all about relationships. We knocked on a lot of doors, and I had some big dreams that, at times, felt a little crazy.
READ MORE: U.S. SAILGP TEAM OPENS NYSE
“I wanted to tap into other markets. Lindsey is a global icon. What she’s done for skiing is incredible, and there's a strong demographic overlap with sailing, so that connection made sense. Plus, she’s just a phenomenal competitor – what we can learn from her in the boardroom is invaluable.
“Then there’s DJ Khaled. What he’s done with golf - his “Let’s go golfing” vibe - it inspired me. I sent him a DM: “Let’s go sailing.” I had a relationship with Roc Nation, and things just evolved from there.
“When you work really hard and don’t fear rejection, little pieces of your dream can start to become reality. That’s what I tell myself every day.”
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