Americans buy 20% of Plymouth Argyle

[LeonTheGreen]

Well.. and professional Ice Hockey players..

Club Statement | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC

www.pafc.co.uk

12 individuals and 3 companies. Initial investment of £4 million.

Potentially exciting times at Home Park.

 

[K-Win]

Interesting. They have obviously seen something they like about the way the club is being run and the potential going forwards.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

I am slightly cautious because the last time we had American investors it went very pear shaped. However, what is different is Simon Hallett and the fact that these investors a) have a track record in investing b) have lots of links with pro sport and c) they have no executive control. I am optimistic because I trust Hallett.

The money is going into cash reserves. Hallett did an interview today where he said it would be spent on infrastructure opportunities in the next year or two to make us further sustainable. We are assuming that this could well be either/both a single training site in or around the city, or finishing off the ground possibly with more corporate hospitality. Or maybe a hotel.

This is taking quite a bit of processing, but it does seem very much in line what Hallett has said about becoming a sustainable Championship side.

Apparently discussions have been going on for a year. Interestingly the investors bought into Argyle when they visited in March for a packed Home Park when we beat Pompey. Thanks K-win and chums in your part in helping us get some investment

 

[BarrieOwl]

Club valued at £20m, a bit low surely.

 

[Trapdoor]

Club valued at £20m, a bit low surely.

Have you seen the state of Plymouth? The entire town ain't worth £20m...

 

[LeonTheGreen]

Have you seen the state of Plymouth? The entire town ain't worth £20m...

Must not bite, must not bite..

 

[LancashireTrotters]

Well.. and professional Ice Hockey players..

Club Statement | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC

www.pafc.co.uk

12 individuals and 3 companies. Initial investment of £4 million. I know that the value of these people / companies means nothing as to how much they will invest but one of the companies alone is worth $718 million.

Potentially exciting times at Home Park.

If we’re playing this game, approximately 8% of our club is owned by HM Government aka, the taxpayer

 

[Muzzle]

Must not bite, must not bite..

Fantastic restraint that, as we all know what Exeter is like

 

[MatthewArgyle]

Very happy with this it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Must not bite, must not bite..

I like Exeter as a cIty to visit, but I much prefer Argyle as a football team to support.

 

[PlymouthCasual]

A slightly pessimistic view but its relieving to see that Simon Hallett still owns 78% of the club. This could be an amazing opportunity for both the club and the local area but one would be foolish not to be slightly sceptical after our last experience with “Investors”

Looking through the list of investors (and googling them as I have never heard of a single one of them) they all seem pretty high profile within their own rights which is refreshing I must admit.

If they can help to build our infrastructure, complete the stadium and improve our non match day turnover, push us towards the promise land of The Championship and help fund a competitive match day squad then lets get this show on the road. Hopefully they do not get bored and pull the plug before we have made the progress we desire

 

[denzel ecfc]

Well we can only dream of such riches. Incredible we are in the same division really

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Well we can only dream of such riches. Incredible we are in the same division really

Yes, but that is testimony to your business plan and management. I am very excited (think Homer Simpson running around), but there is also risk here.
I am guessing that £4 million represents a toe in the water, that might become more later. Given the nature and wealth of the investors this sum represents, in their terms, a drop in the financial ocean.

Maybe our training facilities will be as good as yours soon

 

[PlymouthCasual]

Well we can only dream of such riches. Incredible we are in the same division really

Hopefully we wont be in the same league for much longer, been one match and it has driven me insane!

Prior to this evening I would have put that down to a 70/30 chance of you being relegated rather than us getting promoted.

Could be 50/50 now though

 

[Bartonyellow]

Seems a trend here with yanks.
Walsall bought recently too - perhaps they see it as a way of making money.

 

[thewwfc]

I like Exeter as a cIty to visit, but I much prefer Argyle as a football team to support.

personally (coming from a identikit suburb like Wycombe) I think Plymouth’s ok to visit, the one time I went I remember the waterfront area being decent.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

personally (coming from a identikit suburb like Wycombe) I think Plymouth’s ok to visit, the one time I went I remember the waterfront area being decent.

I think it's an attempt at "hilarious banter" from an Exeter fan!

 

[Luke Imp]

An American family got involved with us last summer, in round figures £1m for 10% of the Holding Company and brought Landon Donovan on board as well. Well, I say involved, they invested and don't have any intentions of being too involved. They've been over a few times to be fair, and our lot visited America and their MLB team, San Diego Padres, a few weeks back (no idea how good they are, I don't follow baseball).

 

[thewwfc]

I think it's an attempt at "hilarious banter" from an Exeter fan!

oh yeah, I got that, but anyway…for what it’s worth Exeter’s decent too. But then most away days have more to offer than Wycombe!

 

[Pompeyblueboy]

oh yeah, I got that, but anyway…for what it’s worth Exeter’s decent too. But then most away days have more to offer than Wycombe!

Always respected Plymouth fans. As loyal as fcuk

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

An American family got involved with us last summer, in round figures £1m for 10% of the Holding Company and brought Landon Donovan on board as well. Well, I say involved, they invested and don't have any intentions of being too involved. They've been over a few times to be fair, and our lot visited America and their MLB team, San Diego Padres, a few weeks back (no idea how good they are, I don't follow baseball).

If they own the Padres then they are pretty wealthy people! They arent a big market franchise but are going after some of the biggest young players in baseball at the moment. They are about to trade for Juan Soto (a hugely talented 23 year old, quite rare to get players as young as him be as good as he is) and probably offer him a $500m contract offer too.

 

[K-Win]

Apparently discussions have been going on for a year. Interestingly the investors bought into Argyle when they visited in March for a packed Home Park when we beat Pompey. Thanks K-win and chums in your part in helping us get some investment

Well, you know us. Always spreading the love to our friendly rivals.

 

[Luke Imp]

If they own the Padres then they are pretty wealthy people! They arent a big market franchise but are going after some of the biggest young players in baseball at the moment. They are about to trade for Juan Soto (a hugely talented 23 year old, quite rare to get players as young as him be as good as he is) and probably offer him a $500m contract offer too.

I've just checked and the family appear to be in a group of minority shareholders. The main owner is a guy called Peter Seidler who's worth £3bn, so I don't think our American guy is worth *that* much, but he's in the company of a few billionaire friends by the looks of it.

Didn't realise Padres were as big as they are though, they turnover about £225m a year. I just assumed they were a baseball equivalent to us, hence their investment!

 

[masi51]

Yes, but that is testimony to your business plan and management. I am very excited (think Homer Simpson running around), but there is also risk here.
I am guessing that £4 million represents a toe in the water, that might become more later. Given the nature and wealth of the investors this sum represents, in their terms, a drop in the financial ocean.

Maybe our training facilities will be as good as yours soon

maybe your training facilities will have houses on them shortly

 

[Boletus Edulis]

maybe your training facilities will have houses on them shortly

They can’t, Harpers, is in Home Park, right next to the ground. Housing developments are not allowed under the covenant. We need a dedicated area off site. However the nature of Plymouth makes this hard to find. First, there’s not much unbuilt on flat land. Second, there’s very little available flat land within Plymouth’s boundaries. There are a couple of possible sites but I can see some political and other issues with them. Third, building outside Plymouth, while potentially close is problematic. The rivers, sea and Dartmoor prevent any development. That leaves south east Cornwall or the posh people in the South Hams.

 

[masi51]

They can’t, Harpers, is in Home Park, right next to the ground. Housing developments are not allowed under the covenant. We need a dedicated area off site. However the nature of Plymouth makes this hard to find. First, there’s not much unbuilt on flat land. Second, there’s very little available flat land within Plymouth’s boundaries. There are a couple of possible sites but I can see some political and other issues with them. Third, building outside Plymouth, while potentially close is problematic. The rivers, sea and Dartmoor prevent any development. That leaves south east Cornwall or the posh people in the South Hams.

Are you sure?
We also have a covanant on our stadium. This does not cover our car parks. Planning permission has been granted to build over 200 apartments and another hotel on land beside our West Stand.
This barm pot idea was first mooted in 2013 and despite nothing happening in over 9 years sailed through the planning committee recently.
We sold 8% of the club to the Brittish taxpayer during covid for 5m that basically got us through covid and out of lge2. Seems we had further investment around Nov/Dec last year from Switzerland which paid for our significant winter investment
Running a football club is only for the mega rich so getting outside investment is much needed by many clubs.
You have to give them something in return which is the downside.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Are you sure?
We also have a covanant on our stadium. This does not cover our car parks. Planning permission has been granted to build over 200 apartments and another hotel on land beside our West Stand.
This barm pot idea was first mooted in 2013 and despite nothing happening in over 9 years sailed through the planning committee recently.
We sold 8% of the club to the Brittish taxpayer during covid for 5m that basically got us through covid and out of lge2. Seems we had further investment around Nov/Dec last year from Switzerland which paid for our significant winter investment
Running a football club is only for the mega rich so getting outside investment is much needed by many clubs.
You have to give them something in return which is the downside.

Yes, but what can be allowed, potentially, is leisure/recreation development. There was years ago some investigation of an ice rink, the land for which I think is owned by the previous Argyle owner. I note two of the investors currently play in the NHL. But I suspect any assumptions along that lines would be 1 plus 1 equalling 3.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Always respected Plymouth fans. As loyal as fcuk

Are we not loyal too

 

[Railway Blue]

Have you seen the state of Plymouth? The entire town ain't worth £20m...

Its a city and quite nice in my opinion.

 

[MatthewArgyle]

The Barbican is nice but the town needs to be updated.