Nowadays, seeing a celebrity being involved in a particular sport isn't new. Sports are now a global market. If anything, celebrities who have some of interest, add some sparkle to it. They can also help spread the interest of the sport to various other markets that couldn't/hadn't been reached yet.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny, the Hollywood actors and co-owners of Wrexham AFC, have been in contact with Glamorgan about the prospect of buying a stake in Welsh Fire, the Cardiff-based team in the Hundred.
Reynolds and McElhenny, who took ownership of Wrexham in November 2020, have witnessed back-to-back promotions in 2022-23 and 2023-24, with the club now playing in the third tier of English football. The pair are believed to be considering further investment in Welsh sport.
The ECB formally started the process for securing private investment in the Hundred earlier this month. Raine, the American investment bank, has distributed prospectuses to interested parties and Vikram Banerjee, who is leading the process as the ECB's director of business operations, said there has been a "phenomenal level of interest from a diverse mix of investors."
Sophia Gardens, Glamorgan's home ground, has the smallest capacity of any venue in the Hundred and Welsh Fire are expected to be the cheapest franchise with an estimated valuation of around £30 million. Revenue from initial investments will be distributed across the counties but Glamorgan will be handed a 51% stake in Welsh Fire which they can control.
Welsh Fire are likely to be the cheapest franchise on offer due to the fact that Sophia Gardens has the smallest capacity and that prospective investors are attracted to the London-based Oval Invincibles and London Spirit.
Of all sports, football seems to be the most popular sport to invest in. The motivations behind celebrity investments in football can differ. Some seem driven by a genuine love for the sport and a desire to contribute positively to communities. While others view football clubs as lucrative assets for financial growth.
However, celebrity investors' impact on women's football goes beyond financial backing. Their involvement reshapes the narrative, fostering growth and engagement in the football clubs they invest in. Angel City FC is a prime example of a football club spearheaded by a majority female-led board that is cultivating a culture of gender equality.
Football's future is full of promise. The convergence of celebrity and sports synergy paves the way for innovation, inclusivity and global expansion, ensuring that the game remains as captivating as ever.
The most obvious reason is that ownership in football clubs is a lucrative business. Hollywood celebrities are wealthy and even though they wouldn't be able to see the returns of their financial investments until the long-term, investing in sports teams are a long-game investment where it can take years to see the financial returns - they have the means to do so.
Mindy Kaling owns major shares in Swansea City, while Will Ferrell owns an undisclosed amount of shares of Los Angeles FC. Ownership isn't limited to just the Hollywood elite, of course. Wealthy athletes such as David Beckham is the owner of Inter Miami while LeBron James has a minority stake in Liverpool.
Owning football clubs is also a good marketing strategy. It always helps to use your money for the better and with the case of Reynolds and McElhenney, the duo seem to genuinely care about using their cash to help bring success to a small, lesser-known side such as Wrexham instead of a big-name one.
“Our goal is to grow the team, return it to the English Football League in front of increased attendances at an improved stadium while making a positive difference to the wider community in Wrexham,” they said.
Natalie Portman, meanwhile, is passionate about promoting awareness about the women's game within the United States and inspiring young girls to take up football as a sport. Interest in women's soccer has been growing consistently over the years, with Portman eager to lay the foundations for a women's team in Los Angeles.
"It just seems like it was ideal to bring [women’s] soccer to L.A. because we have such passionate fans here, such robust youth soccer,” she said in a statement announcing her part-ownership of the club. It’s just an incredible kind of culture shift if we can bring more attention and light and celebration of these incredible athletes."
The investment of American celebrities in European football clubs represents a cultural shift where entertainment, sports and business are becoming increasingly interconnected. These celebrities are not just passive investors but active participants in their clubs, injecting their perspectives, creativity and global appeal.
The involvement of American celebrities in European football symbolizes the global nature of the sport, transcending geographical and cultural barriers and bridging two worlds that share themes of excellence, creativity and community.
In recent years, it has taken an unexpected twist. American celebrities, known for their achievements in fields ranging from cinema to music to professional sports, have been casting their eyes across the Atlantic to the illustrious football clubs of Europe.
Football, or soccer as it's known in the United States, is a sport that commands the attention and devotion of fans across the globe. It's rich history, cultural significance and competitive nature have made it a beloved pastime for millions. European football, in particular, has been a vanguard of the sport, home to legendary clubs and some of the most skilled players in the world.
As the sport's popularity continues to rise, so does its appeal to investors. Owning a football club has become a mark of prestige and a business opportunity. The allure has caught the attention of businessmen, former players and a growing list of American celebrities. They are not merely attracted to the potential financial gains but also the cultural richness, global reach, and unifying power of the sport.
This trend is more than a curiosity; it's a reflection of a broader cultural shift where the boundaries between entertainment, sports and business are becoming increasingly blurred. The involvement of American celebrities in European football symbolises a new level of global connections. It's an exchange of ideas, values, and aspirations that transcends geographical and cultural barriers.
The investment by these celebrities isn't limited to passive financial contributions. Many have taken active roles in their respective clubs, injecting their unique perspectives, creativity, and global appeal. Whether it's attending matches, engaging with fans, or participating in strategic decisions, they are redefining what it means to be a football club owner.
Ed Sheeran has acquired a minority stake in the Ipswitch Football Club. Sheeran is a lifelong fan who has been the front of shirt sponsor for the Men’s and Women’s teams since 2021, has acquired his shares through Gamechanger 20 Ltd.
His total stake in the Football Club is 1.4% and as part of the agreement, Ed will have long-term use of an executive box at Portman Road stadium, which he has personalised ahead of the 2024/25 season.
He will not join the board of the Football Club as this is a passive and minority investment only. "I am really excited to have bought a small percentage of my hometown football club. It’s any football fan’s dream to be an owner of the club they support and I feel so grateful for this opportunity."
"I have lived in Suffolk since I was three years old and, while I travel the world and sometimes feel like an outsider in big cities, Suffolk and Ipswitch have always made me feel part of the community and protected."
“It’s such a joy to be a fan of Ipswitch Town. There are ups and downs but football is all about taking the highs and the lows. I’m not a voting shareholder or a board member, this is just me putting some money into the club I love and them returning the gesture, so please don’t get onto me with signing suggestions or tactics to play! "
Almost 30 000 fans gathered at the St. Andrew’s Stadium on Monday for the League One soccer match, along with some of the biggest stars from sport, film and television in attendance.
That’s because both clubs have received huge investment by well-known American owners in recent years – NFL legend Tom Brady now owns a minority stake in the Blues, while actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have transformed the fortunes of Wrexham since taking over the club in 2021.
Brady and McElhenney both travelled to the Birmingham to watch the game, which the hosts eventually won 3-1.
The pair, who had poked fun at each other on social media in the build-up, were joined by stars such as David Beckham and his son, Romeo, in the stands. At one point, McElhenney even video called co-owner Reynolds, turning his phone around so fans could see who he was talking to.
The injection of superstardom certainly gave the fixture a new dimension and created a feverish atmosphere with the match shown live on the UK’s Sky Sports.
It’s unusual for a third division game to be given such a prime-time slot but fans of Birmingham and Wrexham have become used to the extraordinary in recent years.
"This is exactly what we hoped it would be when we bought the club, that we could bring this kind of energy and excitement to our matches and really create an environment where people want to be a part of it," Birmingham chairman, Tom Wagner, told Sky Sports before the match kicked off.
"Where folks at home can enjoy it and feel that energy. It speaks volumes about the attractiveness of English football to have this much excitement on a Monday night between two League One teams."
It's not just celebrity ownership that grabs the attention of people. There are also movies made. They cover all sports activities. Sports films have been made since the era of silent films, such as the 1915 movie, The Champion, starring Charlie Chaplin. Movies in this genre can range from serious (Raging Bull) to silly (Horse Feathers). A classic theme for sports movies is the triumph of an individual or team who prevail despite the difficulties, standard elements of melodrama.
Differing sports can definitely benefit from this attention. It will broaden the audience number. Fans of a particular celebrity might follow them in terms of following the sport. It can only grow from there on.