Sports franchise owners zero in on Chelsea

National Basketball Association chair Larry Tannebaum has been revealed as one of the backers of Stephen Pagliuca's bid for Chelsea. Pagliuca is a private equity billionaire and co-owner of the Boston Celtics basketball team.

Other backers include former Disney chief executive Bob Iger and his journalist wife Willow Ray along with Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and his wife Elaine Saverin.

In February Pagaliuca led the acquisition of a majority stake in Atalanta. Tannebaum chairs Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment ice hockey team and the Toronto Raptors basketball outfit.

Whatever the outcome American investors will soon own four of the six top six clubs.

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The Political Economy of Football V2

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