Aditya ChaudhuriNBA and NFL stars invest in the IPL team.
Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals have announced that NBA star Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns and NFL players Kelvin Beachum and Larry Fitzgerald have invested in the Jaipur-based team. The three athletes will be joining on board as minority investors. The details of their investments weren’t made public.
The Indian Premier League has already become one of the world’s most sought-after franchise-format leagues, and the investment from the US athletes show that not only has the league gone global but also the interest in the sport in the States is genuine. The US is also scheduled to co-host the men’s T20I World Cup in 2024.
Chris Paul, who already has stake in Minor League Baseball team Winston-Salem Dash, commented:
“I am excited to have become one of the first US athletes to see the value and scope for growth in the IPL.
“With a variety of components, including stadium experience and fan engagement still left to fulfil their course, I see myself contributing world-class experience through this strategic investment.”
Manoj Badale, Rajasthan Royals’ owner, added:
“We are extremely pleased to have Chris, Larry, and Kelvin join us as investors who have seen the vision of the Royals as a truly global brand.”
Arizona Cardinals’ offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum stated:
“I am keenly aware of the popularity of cricket internationally and am thrilled to join the Rajasthan Royals franchise as an investor.
“I respect the global reach of the IPL and am committed to supporting the Royals.”
Larry Fitzgerald, former Arizona Cardinals player, said:
“I love the idea of building a professional franchise with a clear social purpose and look forward to working with this team to challenge the realms of possibility by expanding to new horizons as a franchise.
“India has a passionate sports culture and I’m excited to invest in one of the most sought-after teams in the country.”
