Has anyone from the Quakes or Soccer Silicon Valley spoken to Larry Ellison from Oracle?
He's one of the richest men in the world and has been actively shopping for a sports franchise in the Bay Area having already contacted the Warriors and the 49ers (who said they were not selling).
Cheers!
Robert.
Amanpour won't buy Quakes
AEG MUST LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR SALE OF MLS FRANCHISE
By Dylan Hernandez
Mercury News
The investor group led by Tony Amanpour has withdrawn its interest in purchasing the Earthquakes from the Anschutz Entertainment Group, leaving the soccer team's future as murky as ever.
Amanpour made the announcement Monday, three days after he failed to meet a deadline to submit a $2.5 million letter of credit to AEG. Had Amanpour come up with the letter and passed a background check, his group would have co-managed the Earthquakes with AEG next season.
According to Amanpour, the investment group had pledged the $2.5 million required for the bid. The Earthquakes and AEG refused to comment about any aspect of the negotiations.
Amanpour said his group withdrew its interest in the Earthquakes because there was no guarantee that any Bay Area city would build a soccer-specific stadium for the team.
``My whole offering was contingent on a new stadium,'' Amanpour said. Referring to his investors, he added, ``I couldn't risk $2.5 million of their money. The investors wanted to see certain developments.''
The statement contradicted what Amanpour had repeatedly said earlier -- that he would make the necessary financial commitment to run the team next season even without the guarantee of a stadium. The letter of credit would have given his group until June 30 to find a stadium deal and complete the purchase.
Two weeks ago Amanpour told the Mercury News: ``We are raising an initial round that gives our investors an early potential of buying the stocks in this company. And then we have a next round that would complete the acquisition of the team as well as the funds for the new stadium.''
On Monday, Amanpour said his group is still interested in being a part of Major League Soccer and that it could invest in the Earthquakes -- or another team -- in the future. He said he would continue to monitor the Earthquakes' situation ``from a distance.''
AEG chief operating officer Scott Blackmun offered no explanation on the stadium issue, saying only: ``We believe Mr. Amanpour was well-intentioned and are sorry that he's not going to be in a position to purchase the team.''
Blackmun added that AEG is in discussions with three investors from Mexico about the Earthquakes and that it was hopeful it could find a buyer or a partner to help run the team in 2005. Blackmun said the parties have different opinions on whether the Earthquakes should remain in the Bay Area next season; AEG's main goal is simply to find a new owner.
Meanwhile, grass-roots group Soccer Silicon Valley is continuing its search for a local owner who would keep the Earthquakes in the Bay Area.
``We're disappointed Tony couldn't reach an agreement,'' said SSV founder Colin McCarthy, who worked closely with Amanpour. ``But we were prepared for this contingency and are talking to other investors.''
McCarthy would not name the potential investors, or whether they were part of the Amanpour group.
Contact Dylan Hernandez at dhernandez@mercury news.com.