LONDON: Burnley FC has become the latest Premier League side to have American investors as controlling stakeholders after Velocity Sports Partners (VSP), the sports investment arm of US management firm ALK Capital, acquired majority shareholding in the football club.
VSP now holds a controlling 84% stake in Burnley and builds on ALK Capital’s recent entry into the European sports market with two strategic investments in London-based football technology businesses AiScout and Player LENS last August.
For the record, American investors also own Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Former shareholders Mike Garlick (also club chairman) and John Banaszkiewicz will remain at Turf Moor as directors, working in partnership with new chairman Alan Pace to ensure a smooth transition.
Garlick’s eight-year tenure as club chairman saw two promotions to the Premier League, development of the Barnfield Training Centre, and European football at Turf Moor for the first time in more than half a century.
The deal was completed just ahead of the New Year and has been approved and ratified by the Premier League.
Garlick said: “This investment represents a natural progression for Burnley Football Club. In Alan Pace and his team, we are welcoming committed investors to Turf Moor who will be living here in the local community and investing in the club, both on and off the football pitch, for many years to come. My tenure as chairman has always been about ensuring Burnley is a sustainable football club, and this investment provides a long-term plan to maintain that philosophy, whilst driving evolution and innovation.”
Pace opined: “Today marks a new era for Burnley as we become stewards of this historic football club and build on the impressive work that Mike Garlick, Sean Dyche and everyone at Burnley has done to make it a financially stable, established Premier League club that is a cornerstone of the local community. With a rich heritage, a brilliant academy, and a passionate fan base, this club has solid foundations to build upon. This is the start of an exciting journey for the entire Clarets family.”
ALK Capital’s investment aims to secure the long-term future of Premier League football in Burnley, with a new management team providing a wealth of operational and technological expertise along with a sustainable growth plan centred on advancing the club, its academy and Burnley’s commercial footprint, whilst upholding the club’s core values and identity.
Pace, aged 53, brings 20 years in the financial services industry and over a decade of sports management experience to Burnley. A dual British American national, he was formally a managing director and Global head of Sales for Securities Services at Citi, responsible for overseeing a multibillion-dollar division. Pace is a former partner at SCP Worldwide LLC – owner of sports, entertainment and media properties – and a previous CEO of Major League Soccer franchise Real Salt Lake, where he oversaw the transformation of a consistently last-place team to winning the 2009 MLS Cup.
