Mercury13: Mata-backed women’s football group lines up Spanish club Sport Business Juan Mata-backed investment group Mercury13 is in advanced negotiations about buying a stake in Spanish top-flight women’s club Levante Badalona. Mercury13, which bought FC Como Women in 2024 before investing in WSL2 club Bristol earlier this year, has pledged $100m to build a global portfolio of clubs, with Badalona earmarked to be its next investment. [...]
Scotland Rugby should demand Wales’ cut region, and target Newcastle Red Bulls Sport Business Is the Scotland rugby team a little bit naff? They’re struggling to beat the biggest of opponents and are always the nearly team in the Six Nations. They’ll probably finish this autumn with expected wins over the USA and Tonga, while agonising losses to New Zealand and Argentina – thanks to one of the greatest [...]
West Ham on hook for £5m despite Potter’s Swede pick-me-up Sport Business West Ham will not receive any financial benefit from Sweden’s surprise appointment of Graham Potter, who is still set to bank around £5m in compensation after being sacked by the struggling Hammers last month. Most Premier League clubs only pay compensation – in the form of monthly salary payments – to sacked managers until they [...]
Newcastle’s Red Bull takeover litmus test for Prem Rugby governance September 26, 2025 Red Bull’s ownership of Newcastle will be a “litmus test” of the quality of Prem Rugby’s current governance structures, according to a top business management consultant. The energy drink giant entered English domestic rugby this summer with the purchase of lowly Newcastle, who take on Saracens this evening in their first sell-out since 2018. But [...]
Prem Rugby: Four business stories to watch this season September 25, 2025 English top flight rugby is back this evening with a snazzy new brand: the Premiership has become the Prem, and Thursday nights are the new Fridays. Sure, tonight’s opener between Sale Sharks and Gloucester is a one-off to accommodate the Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Allianz Stadium, but a lot is going on in [...]
Newcastle unveil new logo after major Red Bull investment September 9, 2025 Newcastle have unveiled their new branding having been purchased by energy drinks giant Red Bull in the summer. The Prem Rugby club faced severe financial woes last season but could now, theoretically, be one of the wealthiest clubs in the game after being given “wiiings” by their new owners. Red Bull’s sporting portfolio contains a [...]
Newcastle Red Bulls can be model for Prem Rugby franchising August 15, 2025 This week Steve Diamond joked that Newcastle Red Bulls – formerly Newcastle Falcons – would not have a motorbike jumping off the roof of one of their stands… yet. But in a week where a major sports player has chosen to invest in Prem Rugby, clubs should be champing at the bit to get their [...]
Newcastle Red Bulls: Energy drinks titan can lead rugby renaissance in north August 12, 2025 Red Bull has been tipped to lead a rugby “renaissance in a football heartland” after purchasing Prem Rugby team Newcastle Falcons and enacting a rebrand. Newcastle Red Bulls will join a wider sporting portfolio which includes a Formula 1 team and a string of majority – such as Leipzig – and minority – including Leeds [...]
Newcastle: Club taken over and will become Newcastle Red Bulls August 12, 2025 Energy drinks giant Red Bull has taken over Newcastle with the club to play under Newcastle Red Bulls branding. The Prem Rugby club had been teetering on the edge of financial crisis with former owner Semore Kurdi putting the club on the market for £1. But the major brand has stepped in to take over [...]