Entrepreneur Equity Partners take stake in Bolton Wanderers

Image: Reebok Stadium, David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0

EFL Championship club Bolton Wanderers has announced a minority investment by Entrepreneur Equity Partners (EEP), a leading global investor in professional sports clubs and entertainment real estate.

BBC Sport said the club say the investment will support Wanderers as it solidifies its position in the English Football League Championship, with a particular focus on fan engagement and enhancing the matchday experience.

Founded by leading sports executives Tim Leiweke, Francesca Bodie and Keegan McDonald, EEP is a trusted partner to sports clubs and entertainment operators worldwide.

It brings extensive experience in club growth, stadium and venue development, and the commercial and operational discipline that drives sustainable, long-term success.

Bolton Wanderers Football Club is a professional football club based in Bolton, Lancashire, England (UK), which competes in EFL League One, the third tier of English football.

The 28,723-capacity Toughsheet Community Stadium is the home ground of Bolton Wanderers F.C. Opening in 1997, it was originally named the Reebok Stadium, after club sponsors Reebok.

As part of the latest investment, Leiweke will join the club’s board of directors, and McDonald will serve as a board observer.

They will serve alongside existing directors Sharon Brittan, Michael James and Nick Luckock, subject to approval by the Independent Football Regulator.

The day-to-day leadership of the club remains unchanged, with Sharon Brittan as Chairman and David Ray as Chief Executive Officer.

Brittan said, “Bolton Wanderers have defied expectations these past seven years under the stewardship of Football Ventures and our tremendous leadership and operations team, and I have always believed that reaching the Championship would not be the end of our journey, but the point at which we looked for the right partners to help us solidify our position there.”

“In EEP, we have found a partner who understands our town, our community and the way we do things, who shares our vision for the future and brings real, proven experience of successfully building clubs and bringing supporters closer to the team.”

She added: “The club remains in the same hands and will be led by the same team that has brought Bolton to the Championship. EEP’s minority investment will keep supporters of this club at the heart of every decision we make, enhancing the fan experience and the ways in which they can engage with the team as we continue our transformation into a premier club that delivers victories and unforgettable experiences.”

Tim Leiweke, Chairman and Co-Founder of EEP, said, “We were at Wembley to witness the club win promotion to the Championship, and the support we saw from the fans that day told us everything we needed to know about Bolton Wanderers and this community.

“We are here to honour that legacy and those supporters and take this club to the next level. We will be bringing the best of what we have learnt as partners to many leading global teams to make Bolton Wanderers stronger than ever before. We are proud to join at this stage of this club’s incredible journey.”

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