Source: Telegraph
Boston Red Sox owner could lighten the load on Liverpool FC if bid is successful
Who are New England Sports Ventures?[LNB]The parent company of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, its Fenway Park stadium, a NASCAR racing team and the New England Sports Network TV channel. [LNB] Related ArticlesHicks and Gillett try to sack boardPoulsen: Liverpool plunged into crisisTorres faces race for fitnessLiverpool in crisis'We're in relegation battle'Sport on televisionJohn W. Henry, a 61-year-old billionaire who co-founded the company in 2001, remains principal owner. The publishers of The New York Times own about 16 per cent. [LNB][LNB]How much money do they have?[LNB]The company is estimated to be worth about $1.5 billion (£943 million), with the majority of value lying in the Red Sox. The team, ranked the 10th most valuable brand in world sport by Forbes magazine, made about $40 million (£25 million) profit last year. [LNB]Henry's fortune has declined slightly in recent years. After being estimated to have $1.1 billion in 2009 he did not make this year's Forbes billionaire list. [LNB][LNB]How have they made their money? [LNB]Henry, the son of an Arkansas farmer, used his knowledge of crops to start betting on whether the price of things such as soya beans and corn would rise or fall. [LNB]He moved on to other commodities futures and at 32 founded John W. Henry & Co, a successful investment company based in Florida. [LNB]As well as its sports clubs, New England Sports Ventures boosts profits by selling fan photos, online advertising space for rival baseball clubs and consulting services for firms including Dunkin' Donuts. [LNB][LNB]Why are they keen to invest in Liverpool?[LNB]Liverpool remain one of Britain's best-supported clubs, with a huge world-wide fan base. The Premier League has an increasing following in the US. [LNB]Henry has shown he knows how to run a team with famously passionate supporters. [LNB]He could well see the potential for profits in a club which, like the Red Sox, is based in a stadium that it has outgrown and has repeatedly sought to expand or move from. He would probably also use the company's other ventures to exploit players' image rights. [LNB][LNB]What makes them different from the current owners?[LNB]It appears unlikely that Henry's takeover, if successful, would lumber Liverpool with as much debt as the current owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, did. [LNB]When New England Sports bought the Red Sox in 2002 the $700m (£440m) it paid included $40m (£25m) to mop up its existing debts. [LNB]
