Velocity Sports Partners Acquires Majority Shareholding In Burnley FC
Burnley Football Club have confirmed that ALK Capital the leading US management firm specialising in investments in the sports and media sectors has completed its investment in the club. Velocity Sports Partners (VSP), the sports investment arm of US management firm ALK Capital, acquires majority shareholding in the club, now holds a controlling 84% stake in the club with the investment signalling a new era for the Clarets, building on the club’s history and recent successes.
Former shareholders Mike Garlick and John Banaszkiewicz to remain at Turf Moor as directors, working in partnership with new chairman Alan Pace. The deal completed late last night and approved and ratified by the Premier League, gives Velocity Sports Partners acquire an 84% shareholding in the club, which was English champions in 1921 and 1960. The firm’s Managing Partner Alan Pace will take over from Mike Garlick as club chairman.
ALK Capital Partners Stuart Hunt, Alan Pace and Mike Smith will work alongside former chairman Mike Garlick and club shareholder John Banaszkiewicz, will remain on the new ALK Capital board of directors at Burnley, ensuring a smooth transition to new ownership and providing valuable knowledge from his eight-year tenure as club chairman. This successful period has seen 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.
Speaking about the takeover incoming chairman and Managing Partner of ALK Capital Alan Pace said, “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 & 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. Alan 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.
The acquisition of a majority stake in Burnley builds on ALK Capital’s recent entry into the European sports market with two strategic investments in London-based football technology businesses AiScout and Players.
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