Property Play: The World Cup effect for commercial real estate

Summary

Colliers US and Latin America CEO Gil Borok discusses how major sporting events create long-term real estate plays through infrastructure investment and mixed-use development. He then gives sector-level views on commercial real estate, highlighting office as an opportunity for equity buyers, continued health in industrial and multifamily, near-peak pricing in retail, and strong data center demand constrained by power availability. He also touches on AI's impact on office work and Colliers' measured approach to adopting AI while emphasizing the primacy of relationships.

• Gil Borok explains how World Cup and Olympics trigger infrastructure build-up that benefits host city real estate over decades.
• He describes the 'live-work-play' trend where stadiums anchor retail, residential, and entertainment development.
• He identifies office as a good buy for equity investors given improved pricing and return-to-office mandates.
• Industrial real estate remains healthy with e-commerce tailwinds despite a slowdown from pandemic peaks.
• Multifamily is a good space due to slowing new supply, housing shortage, and high interest rates boosting rental demand.
• Retail real estate is near peak pricing, making it an unattractive investment at the moment.
• Data center demand far outpaces power supply, creating strong near-term momentum, but efficiency gains could pose long-term risk.
• Grocery-anchored retail is popular and could offer value at the right price.