Reynolds and McElhenney eye another Welsh sports team
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the co-owners of Wrexham FC, are considering an investment in Welsh Fire, a franchise that competes in The Hundred.
Hollywood actors Reynolds and McElhenney have become prominent figures in Welsh sport over the past three years, following an incredibly successful period as owners of Wrexham, achievingback-to-back promotions to return to the third tier of the English Football League for the first time in 19 years.
Now, the pair are reportedly eyeing a stake in Welsh Fire, after the ECB recently announced that it is looking to raise about £500m from the sale of 49% stakes in the eight teams taking part in The Hundred.
Birmingham City v AFC Wrexham on Monday.
Welsh Fire currently plays its home games at Glamorgan County Cricket Club’s Sophia Gardens ground in Cardiff, with Glamorgan holding a 51% stake in the franchise.
The club’s Chief Executive, Dan Cherry, spoke to ESPNcricinfo about a potential deal with the Wrexham owners.
“It is a feasible option. Contact’s been made,” Cherry said.
“There’s not been anything substantial come back yet, but we’re in the process and I know that they’ll certainly be included in any process that we’ve got going forward.
“All bids and offers that are going to come in are going to be interesting to us, and we’re going to have to evaluate what the best bid is for us.
“There’s obvious interest in what Ryan Reynolds and the guys have done at Wrexham, which has been fantastic for football in north Wales.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean to say that it’ll be the right option for us, but if they’re interested in talking to us, obviously it’s an exciting proposition.”
In partnership with the Raine Group, Deloitte and legal firm Latham & Watkins LLP., the ECB has recently spoken to every team owner in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women’s Premier League as well as several NFL owners and private equity firms in the search for investment.
The eight hosts, which include MCC and Surrey CCC, will get a 51% share of their Hundred teams. They can sell the whole stake or part of their stake with 10% of the proceeds will go to the recreational game.
Any move into cricket from Reynolds and McElhenney would expand their sporting portfolio. The Hollywood duo are part of an investment group that owns stakes in Mexican football side Necaxa and the Alpine Formula 1 team.
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