Arsenal Owner’s Story: From Sweeping the Floor

DBasia.news – In the United States, there’s one working ethic ‘American Dream’, followed by those who want to develop and have a better future.

Hard-work, the work respected by some US people including Stan Kroenke. Came from a wealthy family didn’t make him have an enjoyable life since he was a kid.

Grew up in Mora, Missouri, the young Stan Kroenke left in Mora, a wood company. Two hours from Kansas, an isolated area for 25 people.

Compared to the other kids who lived like a king in his father’s company, Stan Kroenke had a different life. His father asked Kroenke to do simple things, including sweeping the floor.

However, Stan Kroenke’s duty expanded when he was 10. His father asked him to do the accounting.

Working hard didn’t make the young Stan Kroenke forgot to have fun. Since he was a kid, he loved sports until he was in the senior high school.

At that time, Stan Kroenke who studied in Cole Camp High School played baseball, basketball, and run. Sports were his distraction amid the jobs.

From Hobby to Owner

The middle of the 1970s was the vital period of Stan Kroenke’s career. At that time, he started to be known as Real Estate developer and building mall in the US.

When his finance got better, Stan Kroenke expanded his business to sport hence the hobby.

Stan Kroenke’s adventure in sports was started in 1995. At that time, he had American Football, Saint Louis Rams, and moved him to Los Angeles.

Four years later, Stan Kroenke expanded his business in the sport by developing Kroenke Sports & Entertainment with headquarter in Denver, Colorado.

Under Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Stan Kroenke had some clubs like Los Angeles Rams (American Football), Denver Nuggets (basketball), and Colorado Rapids (football).

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment made Stan Kroenke known as one of the big powers in the US sports. But his name wasn’t known until Europe hence the expansion.

Arsenal’s Rejection

Stan Kroenke wanted to buy Arsenal in the middle of 2000s. But at that time, his intention was rejected by Arsenal CEO Peter Hill-Wood.

“Call me old-fashioned but we don’t need Kroenke’s money and we don’t want his sort,” said Peter Hill-Wood in 2007.

However, Stan Kroenke ignored the statement. No wonder, Stan is known great to control his emotion.

Slowly but surely, Stan Kroenke bought Arsenal’s stock. Four years after Peter Hill-Wood statement. Kroenke became the biggest investor in Arsenal.

Together with Stan Kroenke, Arsenal had a different marketing compared to the other English clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool. The Gunners didn’t like to conduct the preseason tour too far.

Arsenal’s supporters worried that their lovely club will be in debt under Stan Kroenke. But it didn’t happen because Kroenke knows for sure how to handle sports club.

Stan Kroenke declared the ownership of Arsenal to the next level. The 71-year-old businessman wanted to be the only owner of The Gunners.

Currently, Stan Kroenke offered £600M (Rp11,2 trillion) to Alisher Usmanov who owned the rest 30 percent stock of Arsenal.

Previously, Usmanov rejected Kroenke Sports & Entertainment £550M (Rp10,27 trillion) offer. But now, Usmanov admits that he will accept Stan Kroenke’s offer.

Stan Kroenke is the example of successful American Dream believer, especially in sports. Through his hard work, Kroenke can be the only owner of Arsenal, though started his career by sweeping the floor.