After all, the Premier League is already flush with American funding and it might merely be a case of Bezos wanting in on the motion.
“After the key American sports activities, the Premier League has unquestionably turn out to be the subsequent port of name for American buyers,” Robinson says. “We now have American curiosity in 11 of the 20 golf equipment, which is staggering when you think about that there hadn’t been an American proprietor earlier than the Glazers took over Manchester United in 2003.
“However the Premier League has turn out to be extremely engaging to buyers due to its recognition, and the lure and legacy of those golf equipment is wrapped up in a degree of authenticity that’s extremely marketable to American and world audiences.
“So, whereas the consortium is paying some huge cash for its minority stake, that is what it prices now to realize entry to the money cow that’s the Premier League.
“It ought to be identified that you do not make an enormous operational revenue whereas operating the membership, as a result of a lot of that cash goes on gamers. In reality, you principally burn by it within the switch market by paying large charges and salaries.
“Nevertheless, it does offer you an opportunity to take part within the Premier League, which is solely unbeatable in the case of world attain. You are in 195 international locations each single weekend and that’s unparalleled in sports activities.
“I believe that every one the American buyers within the Premier League additionally all consider that, in the long run, the worth of those TV offers goes to proceed to extend. So, if this can be a monetary play, then it is a medium-to-long-term technique as a result of while you do promote, you find yourself making a number of instances what you initially paid for the membership.
“Membership and franchise valuations are persevering with to develop throughout sports activities. Simply the previous week we noticed the value paid for the LA Lakers ($12.5bn), which is insane. They’ve extra predictable income as a result of, within the NBA, as with different American sports activities, there is not any menace of relegation or lacking out on Europe.
“However Liverpool is Liverpool. It is an extremely well-known soccer membership and all the heavy lifting has already been carried out by FSG by way of investing within the floor and the squad, and to such an extent that main titles have been received. In that sense, they’re one thing of a contemporary success story, and with a far larger attain than the Lakers. Simply take a look at their respective social media followers and you will see the distinction by way of world attraction.
“So, I actually do not suppose the status angle ought to be underestimated right here. Not lots of people purchase into an English membership to attempt to flip it round for a fast revenue. For some American buyers, these golf equipment are considered as trophy belongings and, as trophy belongings go, they do not come a lot larger than Liverpool.”
