What is the relationship between Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox?
Despite failing to secure the Premier League title this season, the ‘Reds’ face Real Madrid in the 2022 UEFA Champions League final.
The final of the 2021-22 Champions League takes place next Saturday as Liverpool face Real Madrid in Paris with the game being staged at the Stade de France.
A seventh European glory will not just be wildly celebrated on Merseyside, but also in Massachusetts where club owners, Fenway Sports Group reside.
The official #UCLfinal match ball is here 🤩#UCL x @adidasfootball pic.twitter.com/ZxTHrZG14w
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 24, 2022
2010 acquisition
In October 2010, the Fenway Sports Group (FSG ) agreed to buy Liverpool from then owners George N. Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks, thus adding the English Premier League club to a sports ownership portfolio that included MLB franchise Boston Red Sox.
FSG acquired the Red Sox in 2002 and have been instrumental in turning the team’s fortunes around with the team breaking the famous ‘Curse of the Bambino’ ending their long running championship drought with a win in 2004.
The most recent high profile FSG acquisition came just months ago when the group acquired NHL team Pittsburgh Penguins on 31, December 2021.
FSG members
72-year-old John Henry is the major shareholder of the company (approximately 40%) with chairman Tom Werner holding the second largest block of shares.
The FSG board include some high profile members which include record company mogul Jimmy Iovine and LA Lakers player LeBron James. Together with business partner Maverick Carter, the NBA star spent $6.5 million on a 2% stake in the club in April 2011.
In March 2021, it was then announced that James, Carter and their business associate Paul Wachter were to “exchange a previously held interest in Liverpool” and become minor partners in Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the company that owns the Reds.