In the world of soccer, clubs are increasingly becoming global franchises with commercial interests taking center stage in many cases. This has led to a growing divide between fans and owners at several high-profile clubs worldwide, which raises concerns regarding authenticity within these football organizations. However, some enthusiasts believe that fan ownership could offer an alternative solution for preserving the sport’s history while promoting community values through shared ideals and principles.
One such club is Caledonian Braves, a Scottish fifth division team with around 1000 owners globally- over 560 in the USA alone- far surpassing its annual running costs of $58k. The founder Chris Ewing credits fan engagement on social media for drawing this vast array of global backers together -from sports executives such as NWSL (USA National Women’s Soccer League) players Elizabeth Ball, Kristen Hamilton and Hailie Mace to NBA stars like Mujtaba Elgoodah.
Ewing started the club in 2019 with a fan-majority ownership model that allows fans to have input into its direction through an app and Discord channel. The Braves’ investors find it infectious as they share stories about new supporters DMing them asking, “Who are these guys, and how can I join?” Fans also get involved in naming the team, logo design, and ground selection- Alliance Park being their choice for a name that represents unity among its members.
Although this ownership model is uncommon outside of Germany’s Bundesliga division with strong 50+1 (majority fan) rules, other Scottish clubs like St Mirren, Motherwell, Heart of Midlothian and Rangers have adopted similar models in recent years. The Braves hope to follow suit by filing their first set of accounts this October after registering as a company limited by shares- an unusual model for UK soccer that allows fans to buy into it while expecting significant growth ambitions.
The club’s investors believe fan ownership is the future, especially in America where basketball star LeBron James owns a part of Liverpool and Draymond Green backed Bournemouth- proving appealing ideas are spreading beyond traditional football markets like Europe. The Braves aim to promote shared ideals while encouraging sustainable growth that will last for years instead of being influenced by fleeting highs or lows – with fans enjoying this community feel alongside commercial goals such as Premier League qualification dreams, though challenging.
Ultimately Caledonian’s success story is a marked contrast from Ewing’s initial venture- Edusport Academy in 2011, aimed at young French soccer players to hone their skills and learn English while playing for the club team – that split off as Braves FC when they began competing on Scottish football leagues. Now Caledonian aims higher but preserves its fan base by allowing everyone a chance of ownership- even those with modest finances starting from $10 per person to own a part of this global franchise’s future.
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