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Post by rugbytoffee on Apr 29, 2018 15:20:36 GMT
 The Football Association has received a sensational offer to buy Wembley Stadium. The offer comes from Shahid Khan, owner of Fulham and NFL team Jacksonville Jaguars with the matter discussed at a board meeting on Thursday. The deal, which would be worth an incredible £800m, could see an NFL franchise move to London and force England's football team on the road. Khan is ready to pay more than £500m in cash with the FA retaining the rights for Club Wembley and hospitality business, worth around £300m. "We can confirm that The FA has received an offer to buy Wembley Stadium," a statement read. Should the offer be successful, it would open the door for the first NFL franchise in the UK. Billionaire Khan is keen to bring a team to the UK, with many matches having been played at Wembley in recent years. There is also potential for Jacksonville to relocate to Wembley in the future. Khan issued a statement to Fulham's supporters and allayed fears over the future of the England side and his commitment to their club. "If my ownership interests were to include Wembley Stadium, it would protect the Jaguars’ position in London at a time when other NFL teams are understandably becoming more interested in this great city," he said. "And the stronger the Jaguars are in London, the more stable and promising the Jaguars’ future will be in Jacksonville." |
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65years
Dodgy Goalkeeper
Posts: 941
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Post by 65years on May 1, 2018 6:27:59 GMT
The FA will sell. Where there's money there's greed.
It won't be much longer before the Government jump on the bandwagon with the Yanks.
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Post by rugbytoffee on May 1, 2018 16:13:16 GMT
Always been a money machine. Semi Finals were more exciting when played on a neutral league ground.
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Post by rugbytoffee on May 17, 2018 12:23:02 GMT
Wembley Stadium returned to profit ahead of becoming a takeover target for American billionaire Shahid Khan, new accounts revealed on Thursday.
Wembley National Stadium made pretax profits of £5.5million in the year to July 2017, compared with a £5m loss in the previous 12 months. Operating profits were £12.5m, up by £500,000.
The figures show the most-up-to date picture of the financial health of the stadium, which is owned by the Football Association.
It was revealed last month that Fulham and Jackonsville Jaguars owner Khan launched a bid for the north London ground worth more than £500m.
If he gets a deal over the line, more American football is likely to be played at Wembley and it could pave the way for an NFL franchise to be based in London one day.
Khan is also keen on staging more concerts and events days at the ground, further increasing the potential for revenue.
Wembley’s strategic report which revealed the latest figures, said: “Hosting the most high-profile, showpiece events is critical to maintaining Wembley’s position as one of the world’s leading stadia.”
Wembley’s profits for 2016-17 were boosted by Tottenham playing four fixtures there — three in the Champions League and one in the Europa League.
However, this season the club have paid Wembley £15m to play all their home fixtures there during the redevelopment of White Hart Lane.
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Post by rugbytoffee on Jun 11, 2018 16:00:57 GMT
Wembley Stadium is to be put out to tender in a bid to encourage bigger bids than the £600million offered by the owner of Fulham.
The FA is understood to have at least three other buyers interested in England's national stadium, with billionaire Shahid Khan still in the driver's seat.
However FA bosses are keen for potential suitors to know that the sale with Mr Khan is not a 'done deal'.
A higher selling price on Wembley could see even more money invested into grassroots football and pay for improvements to facilities throughout England.
According to the Evening Standard, FA adviser and investment bank NM Rothschild has been instructed to 'actively make it clear we are open to offers'.
The newspaper added that Mr Khan's original offer for Wembley was £200million, but he was convinced to bid higher due to its earning potential through a NFL deal
Plans for the sale have also sparked a scramble to reclaim the £40million taxpayers' money pumped into the development of the stadium and the £120million National Lottery funding.
It is feared the English national football team may end up having to play home matches at other stadiums around the country while the NFL season is underway.
Khan, who is worth an estimated £5.2billion, is prepared to pay £600m in cash and allow the FA to keep its hospitality business Club Wembley that is valued at a further £300m.
The FA is said to have around £100m in debt which it was due to pay off in 2024.
The Government and Sport England, the Lottery-funded body who pumped £120million into the stadium's construction, have both demanding high-level talks to find out how the deal will impact the future of English football.
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