Stan Kroenke is now only a few shares away from being forced to launch a takeover of the club.
While fan opinion seems to be divided, we see no reason why Arsenal would not welcome Stan The Man with open arms. He is an accomplished businessman who is listed by Forbes as one of the world's richest men. He built an empire through real estate and has since diversified into the sports industry.
Unlike many other Premier League owners Kroenke has an accomplished history in the sports industry, so much so that BusinessWeek listed him in the top 100 most influential people in sports. He owns the Denver Nuggets NBA organization, the Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer franchise, the Colorado Avalance NHL (ice hockey) franchise and the St. Louis Rams. Incidentally all of his teams have been extremely successful.
In addition he purchased the Pepsi Arena (home of the Nuggets) and has launched a regional sports television channel. He also owns a ticket company, cattle ranches and a winery. He is married to Anne Walton - an heir to the Wal-Mart fortune.
Kroenke is in the sports business to make money, that much is clear. So what to expect if he does fulfill the takeover?
Firstly, he is a quiet man who prefers the background to the limelight so don't expect a huge press conference or frequent interviews or even to hear from the man himself. Arsenal can expect considerable investment to achieve greater success, as he has spent on all his current teams to bring them glory.
Americans have a good track record in the Premiership so far with the Glazers bringing a number of trophies to Old Trafford and Randy Lerner presiding over the rapid improvement of Aston Villa.
Kroenke is already a member of the board at Arsenal so clearly they understand the experience and value of the man. A takeover, while not announced or even necessarily expected, may not be a bad thing at a stagnant Emirates Stadium.
Stagnenet? On what basis? Seems like a club that is growing from strength to strength to me while other clubs are struggling financially. See Liverpool and Man U
ReplyDeleteThe club certainly isn't stagnant, Arsenal are healthier than virually everyone else in the Premier League. But I agree with the basic point of the article, Kroenke becoming majority or 100% owner would put Arsenal in a stronger position. In part I say that he is a continuity option - he would stick with the now well established prinicples of financial sustainability, nurturing talent, long-term planning and above all, quality football.
ReplyDeleteI don't see the Glazers as being good for United though. Suggesting that ownership is a question of nationality is pretty simplistic stuff. Loading up the purchase price, purchase-related expenses and the heavy interest liability for financing the purchase on to the club (a club which had zero debt beforehand) seems pretty outrageous to me, especially when you look at how the repayments and interest instalments ratchet up in the next few years. United fans' fears were no doubt assuaged by the silverware Ferguson won, and by a few meaty transfer purchases, but the longer term reality is not good for United, at least until the Glazers sell, which financially speaking they shouldn't do for a while yet.
Owners like the Glazers, and any debt-financed purchase, are precisely what Arsenal need to avoid if their long-term future is going to be bright. United is a bigger club than Arsenal, and might be able to cope with the burdens imposed by their current owners, but there is no other club in England that could cope. Look at Liverpool for an example of how it can go badly wrong.
fuck off Stan, you cunt
ReplyDeletewe (the fans, not Mr. Hill-Wood) don't want your sort here
please stay to yank-sports and not "soccer"