NafisaA move by the San Francisco 49ers is set to highlight just the level of financial muscle Rangers’ potential new owners will bring with them.
The NFL team is a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse in the United States, and their investment arm, 49ers Enterprises, has expanded into the UK sports market through Leeds United. Now with Rangers on their radar and in collaboration with American health insurance magnate Andrew Cavenagh, they are ready to finalise a 51% ownership stake in the club.
Prominent 49ers figure and Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe was recently seen touring Ibrox. Supporters are hungry for trophies and progress after a frustrating season and hope that new American investors can supply the funding required to revamp the squad, appoint a new manager, and compete with Celtic.
49ers set NFL milestone:
Amid their proposed acquisition of Rangers, the 49ers have reportedly set a new benchmark in NFL history, showcasing their immense financial resources.
According to Sportico, they have “reached an agreement to sell about 6% of the NFL franchise to a trio of Bay Area families at a valuation higher than $8.5 billion.” The Khosla, Griffith, and Deeter families are the buyers, though the exact distribution of the 6% share has not been disclosed.
The 49ers are under the ownership of the York family, and Sportico estimates the team’s worth at $6.86 billion. This new valuation, surpassing $8.5 billion, is “the highest valuation ever for a global sports team in a transaction,” according to someone informed about the deal.
The NFL’s finance panel has already assessed the transactions, though they still await formal approval, with the 49ers opting not to comment. How much investment they will pour into Rangers remains to be seen, but the NFL franchise at the core of their operations proves that these individuals are backed by significant wealth.
What 49ers have said about Rangers takeover:
Speaking to Front Office Sport earlier this month, Marathe highlighted the type of ‘capital injection’ they had to provide at Leeds United initially, hinting at what could be expected at Rangers.
He said:
“Make no mistake about this: There was even more jeopardy involved if we did not get promoted this season, because we were so heavily invested, via credit card bills, when we were last in the Premier League. So, buying players without yet paying for them.
“I’m talking bills and payments that are still due in 2027 and 2028. There was a lot of pressure on us. So, as part of us taking this club over back in 2023, it was an understanding with us and our investors that there’s going to be a significant capital injection required just to get us to baseline last year and this season. It was a risk and a chance that we all took because we believe in where we can go.”
“It’s not a job. It’s what I love to do. I love competition. Actually, I hate losing more than I love winning, but it’s what drives me. I don’t really think about it in terms of: How do I do it? It’s more: How could I not? It’s about: How can I get both, whichever club I’m focused on, get them as good as they can be?”
Nafisa
