Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney turned out to be one of soccer’s most successful owner pairings. Their team, Wrexham FC, got promoted back to the English Premier League after a 15-year absence. Following that success, they decided to expand their sports portfolio and branch into the NHL. However, that did not work out for them. Fortunately, for F1 fans and Alpine, that missed opportunity has led the Hollywood duo to find a place in F1.
In 2022, Reynolds spoke to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about owning the Ottawa Senators. He said, “If we progress with the Ottawa Senators, I will be a frothy, rabies-infused fan the likes of which the NHL has never seen.” As the talks went further, Reynolds, along with the Remington group, prepared to offer 1 billion dollars to buy the franchise. But it did not work out because Reynolds and Co. wanted an exclusive 30-day window for negotiations, which was declined.
In a surprisingly pleasant turn of events, Ryan Reynolds has now bought a stake in Renault-owned Alpine. Maximum Effort Investments, led by Reynolds, McElhenney, and Michael B. Jordan, have joined hands with Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners to invest in Alpine Racing Ltd. They have invested $218 million and acquired 24% of the team.
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This gives Alpine Racing Ltd. a $900 million valuation. And according to Alpine’s parent company, Renault, the investment will help the team grow and prosper.
Ryan Reynolds’ Investment Set To Help Alpine to Fulfill Their Ambitions
Renault rebranded their F1 team to the BWT Alpine F1 team in 2021. Since then, the team has had a decent run in the midfield, and they are improving as they move. Now, with the influx of more capital and the expertise that the investors bring, the Renault-owned team should reach new heights. And all stakeholders involved in the deal had the same to say.
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Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group, said in a press statement, “Formula 1 and Alpine are strategic assets for Renault Group. Over the past two years, we have re-ignited Alpine, capitalizing on its iconic A110 sports coupé, boosting it by entering Formula 1, where it aims to become a championship contender. This partnership will accelerate Alpine F1 development by diversifying revenue drivers and increasing brand value.”
The press statement on their website also read, “It will accelerate Alpine’s growth plans and sporting ambitions in F1.”
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Alpine has two Grand Prix-winning drivers on their team. And now, they have an investor group that consists of high-profile celebrities with expertise in managing sports teams. Will Alpine be able to challenge the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes?