The Official John J. Fisher ownership thread

Longtime Niners exec Paraag Marathe is Leeds' chairman as well, so it's a very active cross-sport investment. I imagine they've tossed the idea of taking a stake in the Quakes around but I don't know what kind of synergies exist (both between the 49ers and Quakes, and between the Quakes + LUFC + Rangers). FWIW Red Bull also owns part of Leeds.

 

There are several potential owners mentioned who I'd be happy to have. I just want some progress on the sale. The Earthquakes are an undervalued asset in a very affluent market. It ought to be an attractive idea. How much work and money would it take to increase the value of the team by $200M or $300M? I mean, as long as there aren't any more bomb bunkers under the stadium ...

GO Quakesfans!!

 

BC Place was not Vancouver’s home in 2011, contrary to the Guardian article. The team played in a makeshift stadium at the site of the former Empire Stadium.

Apparently the City owns the Empire site, so this could be readily solved with local political will. Build a permanent soccer stadium there.

 

No duh.

 

Yes, I have been to Quakes games in both the 2011 temporary facility and BC Place (in 2016), and I much preferred the temporary stadium.

 

They played their final two matches at BC Place once the renovations were complete.

They have a memorandum of understanding for a stadium on the site of the defunct horse track next to Empire. They need to sort out the financing and the political approvals, as well as get a lease at BC Place to bridge the years before it is ready.

 

So does anyone know when will we hear anything regarding the sale of the Quakes?

 

No, why would we know in advance when we're going to hear anything?

 

Just thought I’d ask if that’s ok with you.

 

Brutal.

 

New MLS team valuations are out. Quakes one of only three teams to see their value decrease (-3%). Wonder if there are any buyers at $585 million?

MLS Team Values Ranking List

 

OK so $585M. How can RottenFish not find a buyer? Maybe no one wants to partner with him, and the potentials think it’s too much to pay for our shitty team?

Or maybe there’s a deal in the works and it just takes a longtime to work out the details?

Or maybe there’s no deal on the table at all?

I’m depressed.

Go Quakesfans!!

 

It’s the fisher stench. At this point this team is lagging so far behind, competitively, a new owner has to buy the team and then invest heavily (on top of that) in order to compete in today’s MLS. It’s a tough sell I expect.

 

I wouldn’t think so.

The team is under valued. The league is still growing. The team is in one of the biggest media markets in the US. The team already has its own stadium. MLS isn’t as expensive a league as others. It’s a global league in a global sport, unlike other sports leagues in our country.

A savvy owner, with several billion dollars in net worth, could easily afford to invest in the team and still make money on the deal.

And there are more than a few billionaires in the Bay Area.

Go Quakesfans!!

 

Objectively, the team is undervalued. A good owner could increase the club’s value by $300M or $400M.

But, perception counts. And because the team is shitty, some potential buyers might be turned off.

 

To do it right they (a new owner or ownership group) need to invest in an academy training facility which can also serve as an upgraded training ground/facility for our first team, something that got dropped after all the hullabaloo. Those are expensive.

My guess, we will be a bottom payroll team or thereabouts. So, they will also need to invest in some better players. Then there are probably a whole bunch of other upgrades and expenses that need to get covered to bring the Quakes into the current era and able to run with the competitive sides. There's rather a lot to consider beyond the $585 million price tag.

Quakes have been crap for so long that I imagine we have maybe 100 season ticket holders left, give or take (just a random guess, we can't know) but season ticket holders are critical to the financial health and viability of a team. The only way to get those numbers up is by putting a competitive product on the field.

So, the revenue picture, also pretty bleak for any potential buyer, I expect.

Its all related to Fisher running our team into the ground since 2008.