4 REASONS FOR JEFF BEZOS TO BE BULLISH ON LIVERPOOL

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 06: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Soobum Im - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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According to a report early Monday from Sky Sports, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is part of a consortium that is nearing a purchase of one-third of Liverpool Football Club. The transaction will value the famous English Premier League outfit at about $6 billion, per that report.

With a current net worth estimated at $283.8 billion, Bezos is the world’s third-wealthiest man. And while Amazon Prime Video has become an increasingly prominent player in the world of live sports TV rights, the investment would be Bezos’ first directly into a major professional sports team.

Bezos wouldn’t be anywhere close to a majority investor in the club, given that there are several members of the consortium that would take one-third control of the 20-time English league champions.

Even so, it’s intriguing that Bezos might begin his dalliance in sports ownership in the Premier League, rather than an American league such as the NFL, where he was once linked to a potential purchase of the Washington Commanders.

Why might one of the world’s most influential businessmen think the Premier League is the right place to invest right now? Read on for four possible reasons.

Bang for the Buck?

While $6 billion is a substantial figure, it’s less than half of the going rate for the Dallas Cowboys, currently the world’s highest valued sports franchise at $13 billion.

Yet Liverpool has exponentially more followers worldwide, a figure estimated in the hundreds of millions thanks to the Premier League’s unrivaled global distribution.

Of course, the overwhelming majority of Cowboys and other NFL fans live in United States, the world’s wealthiest economy, and it’s the NFL’s domination of that economy that leads to the high valuation of the Cowboys and other franchises. But there’s still a case that global soccer entities like Liverpool bring more for their investment buck.

Unique Growth Potential

The immediate aftermath of the 2026 World Cup in the United States could prove uniquely favorable when it comes to global soccer brands growing their profile among American audiences.

For better or worse, the assumption among sports media types has been that fans newly infatuated with the sport will seek to continue their interest by watching the Premier League, rather than MLS or other domestic U.S. leagues. And there could be a lot of those folks if the TV numbers are any indication.

The final between Spain and Argentina on July 19 drew an audience of more than 60 million viewers in the United States, according to data provided by rights holders Fox and Telemundo. That made it the most-watched non-NFL sporting event in the U.S. since the Nancy Kerrigan-Tanya Harding scandal captivated audiences at the 1994 Winter Olympic Games.

Premier League audiences on NBC have already proved sizable, rivaling national NBA or MLB regular season broadcasts on network TV.

More Revenue Control

Unlike NFL franchises, which operate with widespread revenue sharing between the 32 teams, Liverpool FC and other huge soccer brands have more control over their own revenue generation.

Money from the Premier League’s TV contracts are distributed partially by merit, meaning higher achieving clubs and those appearing in more televised games take in a larger share. And unlike the NFL, soccer clubs keep all of the revenue they generate from commercial partnerships, matchday revenue and merchandise sales.

If this is truly a watershed moment for major European soccer in the U.S., the revenue potential of that moment may be even larger than an equivalent opportunity within U.S. pro sports leagues.

Better Competitive Prospects

After a famously long drought, Liverpool have won two of the last seven English Premier League titles. And with Pep Guardiola departing as Manchester City manager following last season, it feels like there is an opportunity for another club to overtake City as the dominant force in English football.

Liverpool certainly won’t be the only team trying to do that. But they are among the clubs most suited to be successful, given the combination of their recent upward trends and history of success.

On the flip side, global soccer isn’t constrained by the same North American competitive models that create the parity of the NFL. Only seven clubs have won the Premier League since it split from the old English Football League in the early 1990s. So if Liverpool can emerge as the new dominant force, their place atop the English football pecking order could become relatively stable.

- Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes

LIVERPOOL RECEIVE OFFER FOR MINORITY STAKE FROM CONSORTIUM LED BY AMIT BHATIA WHICH COULD TAKE REDS' VALUE PAST £4.5BILLION - WITH BUSINESSMAN QUITTING ROLE AS QPR CO-OWNER

 

Businessman Amit Bhatia is part of a consortium in talks to buy a small stake in Liverpool

British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia is part of a consortium in talks to buy a small stake in Liverpool that could take the club’s value to north of £4.5billion

Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, was co-owner at Championship side Queens Park Rangers – and has a stand named after him at Loftus Road – before surprisingly stepping down from their ownership setup on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group said in a statement: ‘An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club.’

Nothing is official yet and, if it was to proceed, it would follow a similar structure to a deal made three years ago when FSG sold a small stake to sports investment firm Dynasty.

Liverpool are currently in Chicago as they begin their pre-season tour of the USA. 

Andoni Iraola's side play Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday, followed by Wrexham in New York and Leeds back in Chicago, before returning home at the start of August.

- LEWIS STEELE

RYAN REYNOLDS AND BOB MCELHENNEY SELL WREXHAM STAKE TO US PRIVATE EQUITY GROUP

Club gets boost for development of Racecourse Ground, but move comes months after it received £14m state aid

 Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have attracted big-name sponsors to Wrexham AFC and multiplied the company’s valuation. Photograph: Kya Banasko/Getty Images

The Wrexham AFC owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have sold a stake in the company to the US private equity investors Apollo, less than three months after the football club was given £14m in state aid.

The Welsh club on Monday announced the investment by Apollo Sports Capital, part of the New York-listed investor. It did not reveal the size of the investment, but said Reynolds and McElhenney, who has changed his name to Rob Mac, would remain majority owners.

The investment will help to finance the development of Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground (Y Cae Ras in Welsh), the club said. Apollo is one of the world’s largest investors, with as much as $840bn (£630bn) in assets under management. It has previously loaned money to the Premier League club Nottingham Forest.

Wrexham have risen up the English Football League to the Championship thanks to the backing of Hollywood owners Reynolds, the producer and star of the Deadpool film franchise, and McElhenney, the creator of the comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. They have attracted big-name sponsors and multiplied the company’s valuation in part through a Disney TV documentary, Welcome to Wrexham, which has charted the team’s successive promotions.

Apollo’s investment is likely to have been made more attractive by the prospect of significant government support. Wrexham AFC was awarded £14m in non-repayable grants on 17 September, after receiving £3.8m last year, according to state aid disclosures revealed last month by the Guardian.

The deal is highly unusual in awarding a direct, non-repayable grant to a football club. No other club has received more than £2m in grants, according to the database. Other clubs have received significant support from local councils, but the councils usually retained ownership of assets, including stadiums.

The Apollo investment adds to questions over why the council argued that the club needed millions of pounds of government money, said Stefan Borson, a football finance expert and the head of sport at the law firm McCarthy Denning.

“The investment from Apollo is a significant milestone and likely at a record pre-money valuation for a Championship club,” he said, referring to a report by Bloomberg that Wrexham was valued at as much as £350m.

“It confirms the commercial attraction of Wrexham to one of the largest investors in the world,” he said. “Alongside the existing owners, this provides the club with substantial funding for the development of the stadium and a push for the Premier League. However, in that context, the Apollo investment raises questions again as to why the Welsh government needed to provide £18m of non-repayable grant.”

State aid disclosures, which appear to have been written by an officer of Wrexham county borough council, claimed there was “no incentive for the private sector to pursue the project” of redeveloping the stadium, and that developing to international standard would be “commercially unviable”.

Yet in just over a year, Wrexham AFC has been able to repay loans worth £15m to a company co-owned by McElhenny and Reynolds, according to its latest accounts. It has also attracted tens of millions of pounds in investment from the wealthy New York-based Allyn family.

In a joint statement, McElhenney and Reynolds said: “From day one, we wanted to build a sustainable future for Wrexham AFC. And to do it with a little heart and humour. The dream has always been to take this club to the Premier League while staying true to the town.”

Lee Solomon, an Apollo partner, said: “Wrexham is on an incredible journey, and we are thrilled to be a part of it and to support the club, the Wrexham community and Rob and Ryan. This is a multifaceted investment where Apollo Sports Capital can provide long-term, patient capital to help Wrexham reach its goals and to contribute to the ongoing revitalisation of the facilities and local economy.”

Wrexham county borough council and the Welsh government were approached for comment. They have previously said that the investment was needed to prepare the stadium for international matches, which would provide benefits to the local economy.

- Jasper Jolly

MARK WALTER ID THE NEW LOS ANGELES LAKERS MAJORITY OWNER

 

Meet Mark Walter — The New Power Behind the Lakers 💼🏀

Mark Walter, billionaire CEO of TWG Global and co-founder of Guggenheim Partners, just made history with a $10 billion deal to acquire majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Already a major player in sports, Walter also owns stakes in:

🏀 NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers

⚾ Los Angeles Dodgers

⚽ Chelsea FC

🏀 WNBA’s L.A. Sparks

With a $325B investment empire behind him, Walter is quickly becoming one of the most influential owners in global sports.

#NBA #NBAHighlights #NBAHistory #NBA #basketball #highlightseveryone #fypviralシ #fypシ゚viral #fypシ゚ #highlightsシ゚ #virals #everyone #followers #highlights #viralpost #trendingpost

WINDHORST ON THE LAKERS SALES | HOW LAKERS SALE COULD IMPACT NBA

 

IS TESLA IN TROUBLE? | LARGEST SINGLE-DAY DROP IN HISTORY

 

MICHAEL JORDAN'S CINCOROTEQUILA TAKES ON ASIA'S $590 BILLION ALCOHOL INDUSTRY

Michael Jordan isn't just conquering the basketball court—he’s now eyeing Asia’s booming alcohol market with Cincoro Tequila! 🥃🌏 With a new deal set to challenge the giants of the industry, MJ’s brand is ready to make its mark. 

https://www.essentiallysports.com/nba-legends-basketball-news-michael-jordans-cincoro-challenges-asias-five-hundred-ninety-billion-industry-with-major-blockbuster-deal/

#Cincoro #MichaelJordan #Tequila #AsiaExpansion #LuxurySpirits #NBA

PARIS FC'S BILLIONAIRE OWNERS HOPE KLOPP CAN HELP TRANSFORM THE CLUB

Antoine Arnault. Photo: Stephan Feugere

The Arnault family, owners of the LVMH luxury empire, plan to draw on Jürgen Klopp's expertise as part of an ambitious project to transform Paris FC into a force in French soccer.

The family's takeover of the second-tier club includes bringing energy drink giant Red Bull on board as a minority stakeholder. Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, is set to join Red Bull as head of global soccer in January.

"I've spoken with Klopp several times, and he's very, very excited about working with us," said Antoine Arnault, son of billionaire Bernard Arnault.

Arnault spoke Wednesday at a news conference at the team's training ground in Orly, located 14 miles south of Paris.

"We're not coming in alone," Arnault said. "Red Bull is by our side because we know what we're good at and what we're not. We have management skills, but none in football operations."

Arnault highlighted plans to leverage Red Bull's tools to tap into the Paris region's deep pool of soccer talent.

"Paris has probably the best talent pool in the world, rivaling only São Paulo," he said. "Red Bull's revolutionary data tools will greatly aid our scouting efforts."

Arnault also outlined plans for the family's majority stake.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will begin his director role with Red Bull in January. Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images

"This is a family project we started with my brothers and sister," Arnault told reporters. "We thought it was a good idea to venture into something more thrilling than our usual activities. Football has been my passion since I was 10 years old."

The family's holding company, Agache, will acquire a 52% stake in the club, while Red Bull will hold 11%. Arnault will represent Agache on Paris FC's board.

Current club president and owner Pierre Ferracci will retain 30% for now. He said the takeover has been approved by the French league, with the deal expected to be finalized on Nov. 29.

By 2027, the Arnault family is set to hold around 80% of the shares, with Red Bull increasing its stake to 15%.

The acquisition positions Paris FC as a potential rival to Paris Saint-Germain, the Qatari-backed powerhouse. However, Arnault downplayed any rivalry.

"PSG is a club I've loved since I was 12 years old," he said. "You'll never hear me say anything negative about it. I don't exclude supporting two clubs in the capital."

Arnault described the project as a long-term effort to elevate Paris FC's men's and women's teams to top-tier success.

Ferracci, who has led Paris FC since 2012, emphasized the importance of sustainable growth for the club.

"There's a sovereignty issue in football," Ferracci said, referring to the dominance of foreign ownership in French clubs. "If Paris FC can stand out with French investment, it would be a very good thing."

Created in 1969, Paris FC's men's team has yet to achieve any significant success. This year, they lead the Ligue 2 standings with more than half of the season remaining, and their women's team competes in France's top-tier league and the Women's Champions League.

"We're not doing this to make money," Arnault said. "We want to provide emotional experiences for fans. We were deeply inspired by the Olympics and their positive impact. While we are not used to wasting money, we'll work toward financial balance."

- Associated Press 

TOM GORES' PURCHASE OF 27% STAKE IN CHARGERS OK'D BY NFL OWNERS

 

Tom Gores' purchase of a 27% stake in the Los Angeles Chargers was approved by NFL team owners Tuesday during the league's fall meetings in Atlanta.

Gores, who also owns the NBA's Detroit Pistons, bought the 24% share held by Dea Spanos Berberian, which includes 9% that is in a family trust that has a 36% stake in the team. He also purchased 1% each from shares owned by Dean Spanos, Alexis Spanos Ruhl and Michael Spanos for estate planning purposes.

"It's a privilege to join the Chargers ownership group and become part of the NFL. I have great respect for Dean's leadership throughout the NFL community, the Spanos family and its legacy," Gores said in a statement. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to invest in the Chargers and I look forward to partnering with Dean, Michael and Alexis in our shared commitment to compete for championships. I'm passionate about sports and proud to become part of an organization dedicated to winning on and off the field."

The 60-year-old Gores has a net worth of $11.8 billion, according to Bloomberg. In 1995, he founded Platinum Equity, which has its headquarters in Beverly Hills.

Gores' purchase comes after NFL owners on Sept. 1 approved allowing private equity funds to buy stakes in teams. However, this is a purchase by Gores and not affiliated with Platinum Equity.

Despite having more than a one-quarter stake, Gores will not have a role in the Chargers' daily business or a path to a controlling stake. The Spanos family owns 69% of the Chargers with 4% controlled by legacy owners from the franchise's early days in San Diego.

Alex Spanos bought the San Diego Chargers in 1984, and Dean Spanos took over managing the franchise in 1994.

The approval by league owners ends a bitter three-year dispute between Spanos Berberian and her siblings. Spanos Berberian filed a lawsuit against Chargers controlling owner Dean Spanos in 2021 that alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Spanos Trust and tried to force a sale.

She filed another lawsuit in 2022 accusing her brother of "misogynistic" behavior, "self-dealing" and repeated "breaches of fiduciary duty."

As part of the sale, Spanos Berberian agreed to resolve her disputes with the family and the franchise.

"Faye and Alex Spanos fervently wished that the Chargers would always be a vital part of their family's legacy. This ensures that the franchise will remain permanently under the control of Dean Spanos and his siblings Alexis and Michael," the Spanos family said in a statement.

- Associated Press 

MANCHESTER UNITED ANNOUNCES DEAL TO SELL UP TO 25% OF EPL CLUB TO UK BILLIONAIRE JIM RATCLIFFE

AP Photo 

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — After failing to win the Premier League in the last 10 years, Manchester United announced Sunday that it had agreed to sell a minority stake in the storied club to Jim Ratcliffe in a deal that would also see the British billionaire and boyhood fan take control of its soccer operations.

“We all want to see Manchester United back where we belong, at the very top of English, European and world football,” Ratcliffe said Sunday.

The record 20-time league champions have not won the title since former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, prompting increased anger toward the Glazer family, United's American owners.

The announcement of a deal came more than a year after the club was put up for sale.

Ratcliffe, who owns petrochemicals giant INEOS and is one of Britain’s richest people, has secured a stake of “up to 25%” in United and will invest $300 million in its Old Trafford stadium.

Ratcliffe will provide $200 million upon completion of the deal and a further $100 million by the end of 2024, United said. In total the deal will be worth around $1.6 billion, including the $300 million of funding.

The deal is subject to approval by the Premier League.

JUVENTUS SHARES RISE DESPITE PARENT EXOR DENYING SALE PLAN

Reuters 

Shares in Juventus (JUVE.MI) rose as much as 4.8% on Monday on takeover speculation, despite parent company Exor (EXOR.AS) saying it had no plans to put the soccer club up for sale, denying a report in newspaper Il Giornale.

Shares in Italy's most successful Serie A club were up 3.2% at 1310 GMT, with trading volumes far exceeding their 90-day average. The was stock outperforming a 0.9% rise on the Milan bourse (.FTITLMS) as a whole.

A spokesperson for Exor said in a statement that Il Giornale's report was "groundless", after the newspaper said the holding company considered Juventus's recent financial results were "no longer sustainable" and it had been embarrassed by the soccer club's ongoing judicial problems.

Exor, the holding company of the Agnelli family, owns around 64% of the shares and 78% of the voting rights at Juventus.

MICHAEL JORDAN SELLING MAJORITY OWNERSHIP STAKE IN CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Getty

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan is finalizing a deal to sell the majority share of the Charlotte Hornets, the franchise announced Friday, leaving the 30-team NBA without any Black majority ownership.

Jordan is selling to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, the Hornets said. Plotkin has been a minority stakeholder in the Hornets since 2019. Schnall has been a minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks since 2015 and is in the process of selling his investment in that team.

It's not clear how long the process of selling will take to be finalized by the NBA's Board of Governors. Jordan plans to keep a minority stake in the Hornets, the team he bought in 2010 for about $275 million.

Jordan's decision to sell ends his unsuccessful 13-year run overseeing the organization.

MANCHESTER UNITED SHARES HIT TWO-MONTH HIGH ON SPECULATION OVER TAKEOVER BID

Reuters

Shares of Manchester United (MANU.N) jumped 13% to hit a two-month high on Tuesday after a report hinted that Qatar's Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani was likely to succeed with his takeover bid for the English football club.

Qatar's Al-Watan newspaper reported on Tuesday that Sheikh Jassim, son of a former prime minister of the country, was poised to be announced as the preferred bidder of the Premier League soccer club, CNBC said.

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F1: TOTO WOLFF SELLS ALL HIS TEAM WILLLIAMS SHARES

 

Formula 1 Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, has sold all his Team Williams shares.