The Piatak family’s recent acquisition of Carlisle United Football Club is not only making waves in Cumbria, England, but has also captured the attention of the media in their hometown of Jacksonville, USA. The family, known for their business ventures, particularly Magellan Transport Logistics, has entered the realm of English football with their takeover of the Blues.
The Jacksonville Daily Record, a publication focused on business and legal news, highlighted the Piataks’ move into British soccer in a recent report. The article provided context for its USA-based readers, explaining that Tom Piatak, the CEO of Magellan Transport Logistics, and his family, through their Castle Sports Group, successfully acquired control of Carlisle United on November 21.
The report outlined that Carlisle United competes in EFL League One, the third tier of British soccer, situated about 300 miles north of London and 100 miles south of Glasgow, Scotland. Emphasizing the family’s commitment to a smooth transition, Castle Sports Group expressed gratitude for the cooperation of all parties involved in making the deal a reality.
The Piataks reportedly engaged with Carlisle’s supporters to gain approval for the takeover, and Castle Sports Group received an overwhelming 98% approval vote from the Carlisle United Official Supporters Club, which previously owned 25.4% of the team. The report noted that under Castle’s ownership, the supporters’ stake would be reduced to 10%.
Castle Sports Group, expressing eagerness to collaborate with the Carlisle United community, outlined their shared goals of creating a football club that not only competes at the highest level but also serves as a source of pride for the local community. The article also touched on the dynamics of British soccer, mentioning the possibility for teams to move up or be relegated based on their performance in the league standings.
Providing insight into Carlisle United’s current standing in Football League One, the report stated that the team currently ranks 22nd out of 24 teams with a record of three wins, five draws, and nine losses, with 29 games remaining in the season. However, the terms of the deal between the Piataks and Carlisle United were not disclosed in the report.
The article concluded by noting that Tom Piatak is the third Jacksonville businessman to own a British soccer team, following in the footsteps of Shad Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham FC, and Bill Foley, Chairman of Fidelity National Financial Inc., who led a partnership in acquiring AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League last year, also owning the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.
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