Football and music are happy bedfellows, yet the idea of US rapper A$AP Rocky and his even more famous girlfriend Rihanna rocking up in the directors’ box of lowly Tranmere Rovers still feels like a stretch. Nonetheless, it appears to be a very real possibility, with A$AP Rocky reported to be part of a consortium led by former Trump lawyer and serial football investor Joe Tacopina in talks to buy a majority stake in the League Two club. The deal is just the latest example of football’s “celebrification”, according to Professor Simon Chadwick, an expert in global sports business, with A$AP Rocky providing “the public face of an investment consortium that drives engagement and interest in takeover bids”.
It follows Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s buyout of Wrexham , fellow actors Will Ferrell and Michael B Jordan investing in Leeds United and Bournemouth respectively, and NFL star Tom Brady’s involvement in Birmingham City . “Celebrities from various fields are recruited for takeovers in sports due to their influence and ability to attract attention,” says M&A lawyer Javier Mendez at Baker McKenzie in Madrid. “This benefits both parties: the celebrity gains exposure and potential financial opportunities, while the sport or brand gains increased visibility and engagement with a wider audience.
” Having a famous name as part of an investment group can help both in the fundraising stage and when trying to land a winning bid, due to the extra appeal that H.