Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds splash millions on Australian SailGP team in ‘landmark’ deal
Hollywood superstars Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds have splashed millions on a champion Aussie sport team in a landmark deal.
Australia’s champion SailGP team has announced it has landed acting superstars Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds as new co-owners as part of a landmark deal.
Jackman and Reynolds are joining Australia’s team driver and CEO Tom Slingsby, who has also become a co-owner, while Australian underwear brand BONDS has joined as the team’s official title partner.
Likened to Formula One on water, SailGP pits 12 national crews in identical 50-foot foiling catamarans, ripping past 100 km/h just metres from shore in the world’s most iconic harbours.
SailGP is LIVE and Exclusive on Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
Led by Olympic gold medallist Slingsby, Australia has dominated the league, winning three championships in four seasons, and is now embarking on a new chapter aimed at supercharging fan engagement.
Australia’s team will now be known as the BONDS Flying Roos, with the rebranded F50 boat unveiled ahead of this weekend’s SailGP event in New York, where it will race against the backdrop of the Statue of Liberty and NYC skyline.
Landing the Hollywood stars as co-owners and BONDS as a title partner is a major coup for the Aussies, who won the first three seasons of SailGP and lead the standings by one point midway though season five.
Now 10 of the 12 SailGP teams are privately owned, with this being Jackman and Reynolds’ first foray into Australian sport ownership.
Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are the poster boys for the football fairytale of Wrexham FC, with the Welsh team progressing to the second-tier Championship following three promotions in as many seasons.
Reynolds and McElhenney are also co-owners of the Alpine Formula One team as part of a 24 per cent investment group that includes their Maximum Effort Investments.
Jackman and Reynolds commented: “We’re incredibly excited to set sail together in this new adventure. Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country as well as being an avid fan of sailing.
“He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride. Apologies in advance to Australia. No comment on whether we’re writing this in our BONDS. No further questions.”
“This is huge not just for SailGP but for sailing as a whole,” Slingsby said.
“Having Hugh and Ryan come on board, it’s going to allow us to take sailing to the masses.
“So many new fans are going to be engaged with SailGP, we’re just so excited to have our ownership like this.
“The boat has been rebranded, I think it looks amazing.”
The BONDS multi-year partnership marks the first time the Australian SailGP team has had a title partner.
President of BONDS Australia Tanya Deans said: “We’re thrilled to join forces with such an iconic duo and an adrenaline-fuelled sport ready for its moment in the spotlight.
“And how do you say no to Hugh Jackman? He’s Australian royalty! As we set sail on this new adventure, the BONDS Flying Roos have one less thing to worry about – we’ve got their backs (and bums) covered.”
Andy Thompson, SailGP Director said: “Today marks a landmark moment not just for the Australia SailGP Team, but for the trajectory of SailGP globally.
“We’re thrilled to officially welcome Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds as co-owners of the newly-branded BONDS Flying Roos, bringing with them an extraordinary combination of global reach, vision, commercial nous and no doubt plenty of fun along the way too.”
Australia is one of several SailGP teams to undergo ownership changes recently — French football superstar Kylian Mbappe is now an investor in France’s team through his investment company Coalition Capital.
Italy’s SailGP team was recently acquired by a consortium of investors and sports industry leaders, as well as Oscar winner Anne Hathaway.
The consortium is led by Muse Capital founding partner, Assia Grazioli-Venier, and luxury brand entrepreneur, Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, with one of the world’s most decorated sailors and SailGP icon, Jimmy Spithill, as CEO and co-owner.
The Italian team CEO, Australian sailing legend Spithill, told news.com.au the move into private ownership was a sign of SailGP’s growing professionalism and global recognition.
“It’s only in its fifth season and nearly all of the teams are now privately owned and sold,” Spithill said.
“You can’t entertain purchasing a SailGP team for anything less than $USD50 million (A$76 million). Well, north of that now.
“You look at some of these incredible commercial partners now that are getting involved and some of the owners.
“We’re not talking about people that are just passionate about sailing, they’re in it from a business point of view and making a return growing value.
“It’s just great to get that market feedback and because people have a lot choice nowadays so it’s great to see people really see a lot of growth and future in SailGP.”
SailGP’s Chief Revenue Office Ben Johnson told the Joe Pomp Show this week some teams have a turnover of more than USD$10 million (A$15 million).
Spithill is the subject of SailGP’s first long-form documentary called Uncharted, to be released in July, tracking the Aussie’s journey from Sydney to Hobart and America’s Cup champion to USA’s SailGP skipper and now boss of the Italian team.
SailGP resumes this weekend in New York after the event in Brazil was cancelled due to issues with the wings on several teams’ boats, meaning it has been months since the last event in San Francisco in March.
Australia will be hoping everything goes smoothly after their wing collapsed in scary scenes during a race in San Francisco.
How to watch SailGP New York in Australia
Watch the SailGP New York on Kayo Sports on Sunday June 8 and Monday June 9 from 5.30am AEST.
SailGP is LIVE and Exclusive on Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
Originally published as Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds splash millions on Australian SailGP team in ‘landmark’ deal
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