Ivan Gazidis, the president of ASSE, is not very present in the media. However, he participated, along with Huss Fahmy, in a conference organized by Leaders. This global platform, “connects influential personalities and innovative ideas in sport to transform the industry” according to its own presentation. The opportunity to present Kilmer Sports Ventures and the project surrounding the takeover of AS St-Etienne.
Ivan Gazidis (President of Kilmer Sports): “Kilmer Sports is the brainchild of Larry Tannenbaum. Based in Toronto, he is a partner of MLSE, which owns the Toronto sports teams, the Raptors, Maple Leafs and Toronto FC, as well as the Argonauts. He is also very well known with the different leagues, including the NBA. Larry is therefore very well known and very respected in the world of sport. He wanted to do something interesting, breaking away from what he had already achieved.
I had left Milan and he approached me and asked if I might be interested. She's a wonderful person. He's a very special guy who I really wanted to move forward with. We are all proud to be able to work with him every day.
Kilmer Sports? First of all, we are not a fund. We do not depend on any third-party partners and do not have specific schedules to which we are committed. We’re in this for the long term.”
Gazidis announces further investments for KSV
“Larry has never sold any of his sports investments. Larry is very experienced in sports. We look for opportunities where it makes sense to invest. But especially investments in which our operational expertise can add value. is a key part.
So far, we have made our first two investments. There will be more in the future. We are actively exploring other opportunities.
A multi-sport model? We look at opportunities where we think we can add value. We put the right people in place to help drive these projects. And we are helping to ensure that these investments are successful.”
Gazidis: “A very strong sense of urgency”
Between our clubs, the solutions can be completely different to succeed. We do not have a strategic solution that would suit everyone. We believe there are completely different solutions depending on the circumstances. However, we all communicate and exchange our ideas.
We will find the best answers for each of these investments without compromising the investments to have suitable solutions.
Kilmer Sports Ventures in 5 years? In sports, on the field, if you don't have urgency, you will be left behind. So we have a very strong sense of urgency in everything we do. This is not inseparable from a long-term vision.
This also applies to investing. We are here to seize the right opportunities where we think we can add value. For Larry, it's not about ego. He is discreet in nature. He believes in sports as a way to connect communities and families. I know it sounds a little weird but it's real. He's a special guy. We are looking for this community, that’s what we found with Saint-Etienne.”
Tanenbaum: an incredible person!
“It's a club with a very strong community. They have won more championships than any other club, except PSG now. The Greens are loved all over France.
I worked for a pension fund in Milan, with Elliot Management. We carried out a comeback project with Milan, then we sold the club to Redbird Capital. Here, we are not in this mode of transaction. We really believe in our concept. We can improve the relationships, the environment, and the value will follow.
Like Angel City, the LA women's soccer team Everything this club has done has been guided by the desire to create value. Financial value followed.
They defined what they did through the emotional connection they wanted to create. This is what we want to do in Toronto and Saint-Etienne. If we succeed, the rest will follow. These are the types of opportunities we are looking for. the types of opportunities where there will be a very special, emotional connection, add value and bring back to life.
Larry Tanenbaum? I have to tell you, this guy is one of the most incredible people I have ever met. Sports is not his main activity, it's not his day job, so I have no idea where he gets this energy. It’s truly remarkable.”
