Earlier in the month, Arsenal’s biggest shareholder came under some scrutiny.
Stan Kroenke’s company KSE was given £3m by the club, but chairman Sir Chips Keswick failed to properly explain what the payment was made for.
Fans and shareholders at the AGM were understandably unhappy, and they aren’t the only ones. The NFL season has begun and supporters of the St. Louis Rams – owned by Kroenke – are not at all happy with his running of the franchise.
Kroenke wants to move the Rams back to Los Angeles, where they played from 1946-1994 but fans are understandably aggrieved. The team has played in St. Louis since 1995 and form a huge part of the community, but if Kroenke gets his way that will be destroyed.
Speaking at a public hearing, fans didn’t hold back.
“All he cares about is money. He doesn’t care about the league or this city,” one fan said. “The league should eliminate the Rams from consideration (for a move).”
The supporter cited Kroenke’s own words from when he gained controlling ownership of the franchise in 2010, when he said he would “attempt to do everything that I can to keep the Rams in St. Louis. Just as I did everything that I could to bring the team to St. Louis in 1995. I believe my actions speak for themselves.”
Stan Kroenke is attempting to build a new stadium for the Rams, but it’s pretty clear he is not doing much to prevent a move back to LA no matter what fans think.
At Arsenal, moving would never be a threat but the lack of thought for tradition and the hopes of the supporters is saddening. Sport is very different in America, but does he not care about the fans and their wishes at all?
Sports clubs, teams, ‘franchises’ should not be the playthings of their owners. Stan Kroenke is majority owner of Arsenal and it’s concerning to see fans of other teams, where he is much more visible, speak up against him so strongly.
Ultimately we would be powerless if he ever attempted to change something about Arsenal (not that it would stop me from protesting). Let’s hope he doesn’t have any ridiculous ideas.