Dan Friedkin has grand ambitions in sport that extend well beyond Everton.
The Friedkin Group have been the beneficiaries of the years of planning that have gone into building the Hill Dickinson Stadium prior to their takeover in December 2024.
But the Everton vision for an ultra-lucrative, high-yield home ground with the facilities to generate revenue all year round is one they are also implementing at AS Roma, who are progressing with their plans to build a 61,000-seater stadium.
French side AS Cannes are in the Friedkin fold too, as are the billionaire’s extensive interests in the film and vehicle industries. And the plan drawn up in the group’s Texas HQ is to add to their sports portfolio.
How do you feel about Everton being part of a multi-club network?
Toffees' links to Roma and AS Cannes could be problematic – but there are benefits too
Discussion point creative showing clubs owned by The Friedkin Group worldwide
The Friedkin Group multi-club network Credit: Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images
In July, Everton announced the launch of Pursuit Sports, a new holding company that encompassed the Toffees, Roma and Cannes. Dave Beeston, formerly an executive at Liverpool ownership firm Fenway Sports Group, was appointed to oversee the project.
And this week, it looks like The Friedkin Group have their next blue-chip sports acquisition in the crosshairs.
Pursuit Sports masterplan accelerates at Everton
Earlier this week, industry publication Sportico broke the news that Friedkin’s hat is in the ring to take over San Diego Padres, who are valued at around £1.7bn.
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The Major League Baseball franchise would be by far the most expensive acquisition in the history of the Friedkin Group. While very little money actually changed hands between former owner Farhad Moshiri and Friedkin, the Everton takeover valued the club at about £500m.
In football, the only transaction which has ever exceeded the San Diego Padres valuation is Chelsea’s takeover by a consortium of private equity investors in 2022. Incidentally, one of Chelsea’s co-owners, Clearlake Capital’s Jose Feliciano, is one of the would-be bidders for the Padres.
A general exterior view of Hill Dickinson Stadium, home stadium of Everton lit up in rainbow colours ahead of the Premier League match between Everton and Leeds United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on January 26, 2026 in Liverpool, England.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
So, what is the likely business model if the Padres join Everton in the Pursuit Sports stable?
“Part of the reason for Pursuit Sports is that nobody has yet cracked the football model and managed to make it a sustained success,” University of Liverpool football finance lecturer Kieran Maguire said in exclusive conversation with Everton News.
“Therefore, by investing in alternative sports where the objective of every owner is to make money and sport is a secondary objective, you get access to multiple benefits.
“You have the financial upsides of closed leagues with relegation and closed leagues in terms of it being the United States or nowhere. There is nothing to compete with MLB, NBA, NFL etc, which means the wages are always going to be in favour of the teams rather than the players.
How impressed have you been with the Friedkin Group since joining in 2024?
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“By having a broader portfolio of sports, it means that The Friedkin Group could protect Everton should headwinds arise.
“We have seen these kinds of issues arise in France, where the TV deal has collapsed. The Italian broadcast deal has diminished slightly too. There is a perception that there is less risk in the Premier League, but that’s not a guarantee.”
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