(The Post News)– A U.S.-based consortium, spearheaded by real estate investor Al Tylis and Club Necaxa executive Sam Porter, has successfully completed the takeover of Colombian soccer club La Equidad. The group, which includes high-profile investors such as actors Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, and Eva Longoria; MLB pitcher Justin Verlander; and his wife, model Kate Upton, now owns more than 99% of the club. Sources indicate the deal values La Equidad at over $30 million.
La Equidad, founded in 1982 by an insurance company of the same name, is based in Bogotá and plays its home games at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo, which has a capacity of 10,000. The team recently finished 13th in Colombia’s top-flight league for the 2024 season.
Negotiations for the acquisition took place throughout the latter half of 2024, concluding this past Wednesday. This move is the latest in a series of soccer investments for Reynolds and McElhenney, who previously bought Wrexham AFC in 2021. Under their ownership, Wrexham has climbed the ranks from the fifth division to challenging for promotion to the Championship, just one step below the Premier League. Their journey has been chronicled in the hit docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham,” which significantly boosted the club’s global profile.
Porter and Tylis are no strangers to soccer investments. They acquired about 50% of Mexican top-tier club Club Necaxa in 2021, with Longoria, Verlander, Upton, and former Arsenal player Mesut Özil among the investors. Reynolds and McElhenney later bought a minority stake in Necaxa in April 2024, which led to a reciprocal stake for Necaxa’s consortium in Wrexham. A docuseries about Necaxa, titled “Bienvenido a Necaxa,” is already in production, with FX and Disney+ Latin America involved.
“This acquisition is a tremendous opportunity to propel La Equidad to new heights and become a pivotal part of Colombian football,” Porter stated. “We are thrilled to work with a remarkable group of investors, including Eva Longoria, Ryan Reynolds, and Rob McElhenney, who have been essential to our efforts with Club Necaxa. Together, we aim to unlock the club’s full potential.”
Multi-club ownership has gained traction in recent years, offering advantages such as shared data and analytics, talent scouting, and strategic player development through loan moves. Alongside the celebrity investors, the La Equidad consortium includes Scott Galloway, an author and professor known for his insights on business and technology, as well as former NBA star Shawn Marion.
With this latest venture, the consortium looks to replicate the success seen at Wrexham and Necaxa, bringing fresh energy and resources to La Equidad while possibly exploring new media projects to document their journey in Colombian football.
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