Fenway Sports Group
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Fenway Sports Group Holdings, LLC (FSG), is an American multinational sports holding conglomerate which owns NASCAR's RFK Racing, Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox, the Premier League’s Liverpool, the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins, and the TMRW Golf League's Boston Common Golf.
FSG was founded in 2001 as New England Sports Ventures (NESV) when John W. Henry joined forces with Tom Werner, Les Otten, The New York Times Company and other investors to successfully bid for the Red Sox. NESV formally announced its name change to Fenway Sports Group in March 2011.[1]
In addition to owning the
FSG has been praised for its successful emergence as a sophisticated international sports conglomerate.[2] There has also been criticism. In 2019, FSG was criticized for an attempt by Liverpool to trademark "Liverpool", which was turned down because of the "geographical significance" of the name.[3] In 2021, FSG was embroiled in a controversy over its attempts, together with the ownership groups of eleven other soccer clubs, to create a European Super League. In doing so, FSG sought to emulate elements of the North American sports model, creating a competition with strictly limited entry beyond a proposed 15 founding member clubs and appearing to largely eliminate the European system of meritocratic promotion and relegation. Principal owner John W. Henry later issued an apology in which he took sole responsibility for the club's involvement in the venture, which subsequently collapsed.[4][5][6]
History
New England Sports Ventures, LLC, was formed in accordance with Delaware State Law in 2001.[7] The company registered to do business in Massachusetts in the same year.[8]
Business interests
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a
In
Fenway Park
Fenway South
Liverpool
Having previously partnered with the English club
In 2019, FSG was criticized for a failed attempt by Liverpool to trademark the name "Liverpool".[22][3] The supporters' group Spirit of Shankly (SOS) campaigned against the move.[22] When the Intellectual Property Office refused the application because of the "geographical significance" of the name, a spokesman for SOS underlined that the name "belongs to the city of Liverpool and its people."[3]
In 2021, FSG was embroiled in a controversy over its attempts, along with the owners of a few other soccer clubs, to create a European Super League. In doing so, FSG wanted to copy the NFL franchise model, creating a league without relegation and promotion, and ending the existing league pyramid system.[4][5] Whilst widely reported, the suggestion of removing the involved clubs from the domestic competition and its associated pyramid were false. The proposed league would take the place of UEFA competitions in the soccer calendar following a similar format of midweek fixtures followed by knockout rounds, albeit with a selective membership.[23] The league ultimately collapsed following public outcry and criticism from media outlets,[24] with senior figures from clubs including John Henry making public apologies to fans.
In late 2022, FSG expressed its eagerness to consider new shareholders following the reports that the club was up for sale.[25]
Anfield
Anfield is a soccer stadium in the city of Liverpool, England. Built in 1884 and originally the home of Everton, the stadium has been home to Liverpool since it was formed in 1892. FSG purchased Anfield along with Liverpool in October 2010.[26]
Pittsburgh Penguins
On November 29, 2021, FSG announced its intent to purchase a controlling stake in the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.[27] On December 31, 2021, they officially took over as majority owners of the Penguins, and on April 13, 2022, it was announced that the Penguins would play the Boston Bruins in the NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 2, 2023.[28]
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing
Roush first entered NASCAR competition in 1988 but had competed and won championships in various drag racing and sports car racing series since the mid-1960s. The racing business was originally a small branch of co-owner Jack Roush's successful automotive engineering and road-racing equipment business based in Livonia, Michigan.[30]
On February 14, 2007, FSG purchased 50% of Roush Racing to create a new corporate entity, Roush Fenway Racing.[17]
Boston Common Golf
On June 26, 2023, it was announced that FSG would own one of six teams in the TMRW Golf League, a high-tech golf league created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. The team will represent Boston and the greater New England area.[31]
Salem Red Sox
In December 2007, Fenway Sports Group agreed to purchase the
Fenway Sports Management
Fenway Sports Management (FSM) was established by FSG in 2004. It styles itself as a "new kind of sports marketing agency", created by FSG to expand its footprint beyond its most famous holdings, the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball and Fenway Park. FSM entered into an exclusive sponsorship sales agreement with
NESN
The
AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
On August 31, 2023, Fenway Sports Group announced they would be purchasing
Partners
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/2016-10-07_LeBron_James_ALDS_Game_2_pregame_Cleveland_02.jpg/220px-2016-10-07_LeBron_James_ALDS_Game_2_pregame_Cleveland_02.jpg)
Partners in Fenway Sports Group LLC as of April 2, 2024 include:[41][42]
- Theodore Alfond
- William Alfond
- Arctos Partners
- Maverick Carter
- Thomas R. DiBenedetto
- Michael J. Egan (Director, Liverpool)
- Patrick Egan
- Theo Epstein
- Chris Fillo
- David Ginsberg (Vice chairman)[43]
- Michael S. Gordon (President, FSG; director, Liverpool)[39][44]
- John W. Henry (Principal owner)
- Linda P. Henry
- Jimmy Iovine
- Mitchell Jacobson
- LeBron James
- Gary Kaneb
- Sam Kennedy (CEO, FSG; president/CEO, Boston Red Sox)
- Seth Klarman
- Larry Lucchino (Deceased, April 2, 2024)[45]
- Henry F. McCance
- Phillip H. Morse (Vice chairman)
- Michael Pucker
- Bruce Rauner
- RedBird Capital Partners
- Frank M. Resnek
- Steve Somers
- Laura Trust
- Paul Wachter
- Herbert Wagner
- Richard W. Warke
- Teddy Werner
- Thomas C. Werner (Chairman)
Ed Weiss is listed as executive vice president/corporate strategy and general counsel[42] and Julie Swinehart as chief financial officer.[46]
References
- ^ "NESV becomes Fenway Sports Group". March 22, 2011.
- ^ "Red Sox Nation Goes Global". Forbes. March 31, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Liverpool FC fails in bid to trademark city's name". BBC News. September 26, 2019. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019.
- ^ a b Powell, Dave (April 20, 2021). "Four reasons why Liverpool owners FSG want Super League to copy NFL model". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ a b Pearce, James. "Klopp furious at FSG over Super League and Liverpool players and staff stunned by abuse at Leeds". The Athletic. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "John W Henry's message to Liverpool supporters". April 21, 2021.
- ^ "New England Sports Ventures (NESV) Officially Changes Corporate Name to Fenway Sports Group". NESN.com. March 22, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ Corporations Division, Massachusetts
- ^ "Root The (1903) Red Sox On To World Series Victory". News. October 3, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ "Who has won the most World Series titles in MLB history?". ESPN.com. March 25, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ Spotrac. "2024 Boston Red Sox Payroll Table". spotrac.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "Tiger Stadium opened 100 years ago just like Fenway Park, but it's ignored in Detroit". April 23, 2012.
- ^ "JetBlue Reflects on 15 Years of Operations in Boston and Looks Ahead to Future Growth and Maintaining Leadership Position". Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ Garrahan, Matthew (October 19, 2009). Written at Los Angeles. "Fulham strike deal with Red Sox". Financial Times. London. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
- ^ "Fulham Football Club Selects Fenway Sports Group as Exclusive North American Agency". Boston: Fenway Sports Group; Fulham F.C. Business Wire. October 19, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- ^ Fast Company. Mansueto Ventures LLC. March 14, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
- ^ "Fulham Football Club Selects Fenway Sports Group as Exclusive North American Agency | Reuters". Reuters. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ^ "Liverpool board agree sale of club". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. October 6, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
- ^ "Tottenham 0-2 Liverpool: Mo Salah and Divock Origi goals hand Liverpool sixth European crown". Sky Sports. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ "Liverpool CHAMPIONS! Reds win Premier League to end 30-year title drought". talkSPORT. June 25, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ a b Markham C (July 26, 2019). "'The name is not FSG's to own, it is the name of our city' - Supporters' group criticize Liverpool trademark plans". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on July 27, 2019.
- ^ "The Super League".
- ^ "Gary Neville 'disgusted' by Premier League clubs involved in breakaway European Super League".
- ^ "Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group 'would consider new shareholders'". BBC Sport. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ "NESV completes £300m Liverpool takeover with promise to listen". The Guardian UK Edition. October 15, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ "Fenway Sports Group agrees to purchase Penguins, leaving just NHL owners' approval before deal is official". The Boston Globe. November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ "What are the future host sites of the NHL Winter Classic?". NBC Sports Boston. January 2, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "A Tradition of Winning |". www.rfkracing.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "Jack Roush, Founder |". www.rfkracing.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "Fenway Sports Group becomes owner of the second TGL team with purchase of Boston franchise". CBS Sports. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ "Salem Baseball History". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "Sponsorships at Boston College". BCEagles.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
- ^ "Basketball star LeBron James in deal with Fenway Sports". The Wall Street Journal. April 7, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
- ^ "Fenway Sports Management to represent "Johnny Football"". The Boston Globe. January 15, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
- ^ "John Henry". Boston Globe Media. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "Penguins Announce 'SportsNet Pittsburgh' as Regional Sports Network". NHL.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Silverman, Michael (March 16, 2021). "Fenway Sports Group Adds LeBron James as Partner, Approves Deal to Jump-Start Plan to Acquire More Teams". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ a b "Michael Gordon plays private but powerful role with Red Sox – The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "Directors – Liverpool FC". Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ^ a b Fenway Sports Group (March 31, 2021): Fenway Sports Group Announces Significant Investment by RedBird Capital Partners; LeBron James, Maverick Carter Join FSG Membership
- ^ a b Murphy, Abby; Long, Justin; Pérez, Daveson; Villoria–Benítez, Carlos; Benson, Devin; Clark, Raleigh (2024). Boston Red Sox 2024 Media Guide. Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Red Sox Media Relations Department. p. 3.
- ^ Also the VP of "UKSV Holdings Company Limited", the intermediate holding company of Liverpool
- ^ "Henry: Lucchino's Sox role not diminishing". February 24, 2015.
- ^ Schudel, Matt (April 2, 2024). "Larry Lucchino, Baseball Executive Who Helped End Red Sox' 'Curse,' Dies at 78". washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- The Liverpool Echo.
- Boston Red Sox 2010 Media Guide, page 9