The England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) sale of The Hundred franchises has moved closer with NFL great Tom Brady acquiring a 49% stake in Birmingham Phoenix.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion bought the stake with Knighthead Capital Management LLC, whose bid valued the franchise at £82 million. This is a £79m increase on the £3m cost of the original franchise licenses in 2019. Because the bid values Birmingham Phoenix at £82 million, Knighthead will pay £41 million for its 49% stake.
The ECB, Warwickshire (Phoenix’s host county), and Knighthead have not yet responded to requests for comment on the acquisition. The move will further strengthen Brady’s growing presence in the city, as the former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback also owns a minority stake in League One football club Birmingham City.
Tom Brady’s involvement with Birmingham Phoenix will give The Hundred a global appeal and commercial profile that the competition is still working to achieve, therefore his star power is expected to yield increased fan engagement and sponsorship opportunities for the franchise, as has been the case with Birmingham City since he became involved with the club in 2023.
Knighthead’s co-founder, Tom Wagner, who is also the chairman of Birmingham City FC, has already committed to investing more than £2bn in a new “sports quarter” in the city, thus the club has already bought a 48-acre site for a new stadium, so this deal is part of a broader plan for the city’s sporting landscape.
Knighthead and RIL, who have recently purchased a stake in Oval Invincibles, have eight weeks to agree with terms before the ECB’s sale process concludes on February 10, and it will be up to both franchises whether they pay the amount upfront, or opt for an installment plan over five years.
With global sports investors now established in The Hundred, the competition is entering a new era of commercial growth. With Tom Brady’s involvement, Birmingham Phoenix could be one of the most-watched teams in the tournament. Brady’s star power and Knighthead’s investment will likely attract new fans and sponsors from across the globe.