Owners

Diary Of A Private Plane Party With Man City Ownership

The best party is the one that sneaks up on you like a Jay Rodriguez goal in the 73rd minute. West Brom 1, Man United nil. Sheikh Mansour and the rest of Man City ownership were on cloud nine.

I was on my hands and knees inside a walk-in freezer 40,000 feet above sea level, searching for a cake that never had a good chance of being consumed. 

Until Rodriguez struck, West Brom parked the bus and the stomach grumbles of UAE's dignitaries called for an ice cream cake frosted City blue. 

No Famous Sports Team Owner Has Done It Better Than Sir Elton John

Will Ferrell, Mindy Kaling, Magic Johnson, David Beckham, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, et al. Take some notes. Sir Elton John's success with Watford is the bar against which each famous sports team owner should be judged. 

If you're taking in a Watford game at Vicarage Road, you might end up sitting in the Sir Elton John Stand. It's not named to merely celebrate its most famous fan. Rather, John earned that honor by lifting his boyhood club from the depths of the fourth division to the top of the English football pyramid.

Dear Chelsea, You Have Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen

Back in February, it was the humiliating 4-1 loss to Watford that was deemed the low point of Antonio Conte’s stewardship of Chelsea FC, but on Easter Sunday, Chelsea conceded a 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge to Tottenham — Spurs’ first victory at the Bridge in 28 years. 

Floyd Mayweather Talks Newcastle Takeover And Luring Cristiano Ronaldo To Tyneside

In an absurd twist of events with zero foundation in practicality, Floyd Mayweather was recently asked by British tabloid the Sunday Daily Star whether he’d ever consider investing in an English football club, and, given the fact that Mike Ashley publicly put Newcastle United up for sale last year, what about the Tyneside-based team in particular?

Las Vegas Lights FC: Soccer’s Brave New World Or Its Biggest Gimmick?

Five months into Las Vegas Lights FC and there’s almost too much to process here — which is entirely fitting for a club calling Vegas home. It began with the naming of the United Soccer League expansion team via an online poll back in August, with the Lights moniker beating out competition from other potentials like Viva Vegas and Club Vegas.

Nashville Named Major League Soccer’s 24th Team

It’d been clear for a couple days now, but a formal press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame confirmed Nashville as one of two expansion franchises that could begin play as early as 2020 in Major League Soccer. With Los Angeles FC set to join the league in 2018 as the 23rd club, Nashville is now MLS’s 24th side and the third team in the Southeastern United States (Atlanta and Orlando being the other two).

#SaveTheCrew Movement Gets Support Of Brewery With $1.25 Billion Valuation

Back before Anthony Precourt invested in the Columbus Crew in 2013, the Crew had a decidedly punk feel. Prior to going with a Bundesliga-inspired crest that’s actually quite nice, the Crew boasted the most ruffian logo in all of American sports with three dudes wearing construction hats beneath a giant stylization of the word “Crew”. It was hardcore, a tradition that’s been vociferously kept alive by the Nordecke supporters’ group and all who’ve given their voice to the #SavetheCrew movement.

Columbus Owner Anthony Precourt Becoming Most Hated Man In MLS With Relocation Threat

There’s no end in sight for the drama surrounding the Columbus Crew, owner Anthony Precourt and the fans who’ve supported the club since it began as one of Major League Soccer’s ten charter clubs back in 1996. The ownership group, Precourt Sports Ventures LLC, released a statement on Tuesday outlining it’s vision for the franchise in the near future, triggering an intense round of accusations between all involved parties.

Newcastle United Put Up For Sale But Likelihood Of Transaction Is Unclear

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has made no secret of his desire to sell the club over the past year, but the 53-year-old sporting goods billionaire has now made his intentions perfectly clear via a formal statement from Saint James’ Park officials.

Financial Fair Play Not Even The Least Bit Interested In Investigating Newcastle United

Finally, a bit of good news for Newcastle United supporters around the world. After a net spend of around $26 million in the summer transfer window (or roughly one-tenth of a Neymar if you prefer), The18 can confirm that the club have steered cleared of a dreaded investigation from UEFA over financial fair play. 

This will undoubtedly bring great joy to manager Rafa Benitez, who was promised “every last penny” by owner Mike Ashley back in May and then landed Jacob Murphy from Norwich City as the club’s marquee signing. 

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