""It's a much more affordable option into a high level of major sport," explains Jim Frevola, Bournemouth's president of business operations. Frevola moved from America to Bournemouth three years ago to help run the franchise for billionaire owner Bill Foley. Frevola compares the prices of British soccer teams to franchises in sports like the NFL and NBA in America. "Teams are going for six, eight billion where you could buy teams in the Premier League for a much more affordable opportunity," Frevola said."
"At the start of October, Bournemouth men's soccer team hosted Fulham, London's oldest professional soccer team, for a tightly contested Premier League match. But although these two soccer teams might seem entirely English, they are both actually owned by Americans. And they are not alone: teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United, who have fans around the world, also now all have American owners."
Bournemouth is a seaside town in Dorset with a sandy beach and traditional fish and chips. Bournemouth's men's soccer team played Fulham, but both clubs are American-owned. More than half of the 92 teams across England and Wales's top four leagues have some American ownership, and Americans are also investing in Scottish and European clubs. Jim Frevola, Bournemouth's president of business operations, moved from the United States to help run the franchise and compares Premier League club prices favorably to NFL and NBA valuations. Frevola emphasizes the intense passion of English soccer fans. Kevin Nagle purchased third-tier Huddersfield two years ago.
Read at www.npr.org
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