Spanish league secures $3.2 billion in funds to help clubs

Spanish league secures $3.2 billion in funds to help clubs

SeattlePI.com

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MADRID (AP) — The Spanish league took a step toward cutting into the Premier League's global dominance on Wednesday, securing €2.7 billion ($3.2 billion) in funding to boost its clubs' finances and increase revenue growth over the next few years.

The deal unanimously approved by the league's executive committee should increase the clubs' spending power and is expected to help Barcelona guarantee a new contract for Lionel Messi, who is yet to officially say whether he will remain with the club.

The strategic agreement with international investment fund CVC Capital Partners, being dubbed “Boost LaLiga,” still needs to go through the league's general assembly, when a majority of the clubs from the first and second divisions must give their final approval.

CVC used to own Formula One and recently bought a stake in rugby’s Six Nations tournament. As part of the agreement with the Spanish league, the private equity firm would have a share of about 10% of the league's revenues and a stake of 10% in a new commercial entity that values the league at 24.2 billion euros ($28.7 billion).

The funding would allow the league to boost its growth and increase its global presence as it continues to try to catch up to the powerful Premier League, the world's richest soccer league. It envisages the agreement accelerating the competition’s development into a digital entertainment company.

“This ambitious investment plan will provide LaLiga and the clubs with all the necessary resources to fulfil its transformation strategy to become a leading global player in the digital entertainment market, while at the same time bolstering the competition and transforming the experience of the fans,” the league said in a statement.

It said CVC will not have control of the management of the...

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