Home / Sports / Hollywood & NFL Owner Buys Exeter Rugby
Hollywood & NFL Owner Buys Exeter Rugby
19 Apr
Summary
- Bill Foley's Black Knight Sports to acquire Exeter Chiefs.
- Sale aims to bring Premier League and Hollywood glamour.
- Current owner cannot fund club's future ambitions alone.
American businessman Bill Foley, through his investment firm Black Knight Sports and Entertainment, is on the verge of acquiring the Exeter Chiefs rugby club. This significant multimillion-pound deal is anticipated to introduce a level of Premier League and Hollywood-style investment into English club rugby.
Foley, already a prominent figure in sports ownership, controls AFC Bournemouth in English football and the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL, which won the Stanley Cup in 2023. His financial backing primarily stems from Cannae Holdings. The sale is a crucial step for Exeter, whose current chair, Tony Rowe, has invested heavily but can no longer solely fund the club's aspirations.
Rowe has highlighted the financial realities facing English clubs, emphasizing the need for strategic adjustments ahead of a potential franchise league launch in 2029-30. Other recent investments in English rugby include Red Bull's involvement with Newcastle and James Dyson's acquisition of a stake in Bath. The Exeter sale requires ratification by approximately 700 club members at an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for May 7.
Black Knight Sports has a proven track record of developing sports franchises, notably transforming Bournemouth into a stable Premier League club with astute data-driven strategies and shrewd transfer dealings. Similar approaches are expected to be applied to the Exeter Chiefs to enhance their performance and competitiveness.
