St. Patrick's Athletic have welcomed four US sports stars as strategic investors in the club, with the aim of expanding the Inchicore club across the Atlantic.
Current Cleveland Browns quarter-back Joe Flacco is joined by fellow Super Bowl winner Matt Birk, as well former NFL linebacker Chad Greenway and Anders Lee, an NHL hockey player with the New York Islanders.
St. Pat's have already taken steps to expand their brand in the US this year, by announcing that they will travel to Minnesota to take on MLS side Minnesota United during the March international break.
The match will take place at the Allianz Stadium in Minneapolis–Saint Paul on March 20th, with both clubs hoping to attract some of the local Irish-American community on the back of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the area.
We are pleased to welcome Kenosis Sports Group including Joe Flacco, Chad Greenway, Matt Birk and Anders Lee, amongst others, as strategic investors in St Patrick's Athletic
Read Chairman Garrett Kelleher's full statement on our website ➡️ https://t.co/mGcsvW623n pic.twitter.com/Cq70PElxvB— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) March 5, 2024
St. Pat's welcome US investors
"We are pleased to welcome Kenosis Sports Group including Joe Flacco, Chad Greenway, Matt Birk and Anders Lee, amongst others, as strategic investors in St Patrick's Athletic," said the Saints chairman Garrett Kelleher in a statement.
"Joe, Chad, Matt and Anders have had decorated careers in the NFL and NHL and have a keen interest in football.
"We have been working with KSG, a subsidiary of Kenosis Capital, in setting our upcoming game versus Minnesota United on March 20th and believe this is the first step in St Patrick's Athletic's expansion into the US."
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Who are St. Pats' new investors?
Flacco was the MVP for Super Bowl XLVII, as the Baltimore Ravens were crowned champions of the 2012 NFL season. He has since gone on to play for the Denver Broncos, the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Browns midway through the 2023 season.
Birk was part of the same Baltimore team that won Super Bowl XLVII, and retired after that victory. He has since moved into politics, running as the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota in 2002, and is known for his anti-abortion and anti same-sex marriage activism.
Greenway spent his entire NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings, while ice hockey stat Lee has been captaining the New York Islanders since 2018.
The US investment at St. Pat's follows on from another American consortium, Trivela Group taking ownership at Drogheda United, while former Ireland international Ciara McCormack is leading a Canadian-based investment group at Treaty United.
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