Former Heron MD behind Boehly’s Chelsea bid
Jonathan Goldstein, lawyer, property entrepreneur, crazy-golf investor and former Heron International managing director, is part of Todd Boehly’s bid for Chelsea FC.
Goldstein’s empire ranges from the AllBright women’s private clubs to the Italian restaurant chain Prezzo and Swingers crazy golf courses through Cain International, whose biggest investor is Boehly’s Eldridge. Goldstein caught the football industry’s attention in 2014 when Cain, then newly formed, looked at a takeover bid for Tottenham Hotspur.
This weekend he described Roman Abramovich’s forced sale of the Premier League club as a “generational opportunity”.
Jonathan Goldstein, lawyer, property entrepreneur, crazy-golf investor and former Heron International managing director, is part of Todd Boehly’s bid for Chelsea FC.
Goldstein’s empire ranges from the AllBright women’s private clubs to the Italian restaurant chain Prezzo and Swingers crazy golf courses through Cain International, whose biggest investor is Boehly’s Eldridge. Goldstein caught the football industry’s attention in 2014 when Cain, then newly formed, looked at a takeover bid for Tottenham Hotspur.
This weekend he described Roman Abramovich’s forced sale of the Premier League club as a “generational opportunity”.
“When was the last time one of the top four became available?” Goldstein asked, referring to Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Boehly’s Chelsea bid is partly predicated on property expertise. Planning permission to redevelop the 41,600-seat Stamford Bridge ground as a 60,000-seat stadium expired two years ago. Boehly’s group is working with David Hickey, former project director for the Chelsea scheme, and the architect Janet Marie Smith, best known for designing the Oriole Park baseball stadium in Maryland, US.
“We need to get in, sit down and focus on what we want to achieve and make some important decisions,” said Goldstein. The previous plan envisaged Chelsea moving out for several years. “The planning permission has lapsed so we are going to have to start again with the council, the local MP, the Chelsea pitch owners, the fan base. There’s a big job to do.”
The Times (£)
