Chelsea

Rock Entertainment Group 'invest in Ricketts family bid for Chelsea'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 04 April 2022

Rock Entertainment Group – led by American billionaire Dan Gilbert – are 'significant' investors in the Ricketts family's bid to buy Chelsea, according to a report.

Rock Entertainment Group (REG) are 'significant' investors in the Ricketts family's bid to buy Chelsea, according to a report.

Last month, four final bidders were believed to have been identified, and each consortium has been granted extra time to revise their proposals.

The Ricketts Family, who own the Chicago Cubs, former Liverpool chairman Sir Martin Broughton, LA Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly and Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca are all believed to be in the running to take over from Roman Abramovich.

US merchant bank Raine Group, who have been brought in to facilitate the sale of Chelsea, would allegedly prefer to sell the club to the Ricketts Family, despite some Blues supporters protesting against their bid to buy the club at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

According to the Evening Standard, the Ricketts Family have a 'significant' investment worth around £23bn from REG, who own a number of American sports teams including basketball side the Cleveland Cavaliers.

REG are led by 60-year-old billionaire Dan Gilbert, who is one of the richest men in the USA, worth an estimated $31bn by Forbes.

Revised bids from each of the four interested parties are set to be finalised by April 11 at the earliest.