The Breakers majority ownership is changing hands from Paul Blackwell (left) to Matt Walsh (right). Photo / Photosport
The Breakers majority ownership is changing hands from Paul Blackwell (left) to Matt Walsh (right). Photo / Photosport
The New Zealand Breakers have just taken their biggest shot in franchise history.
For the first time since 2005, the Breakers have undergone an ownership change, with Paul and Liz Blackwell stepping aside as majority owners.
In comes a consortium led by former basketballer Matt Walsh, which includes the likes of NBA champion Shawn Marion, and most bizarrely, the hosts of popular sports podcast "Pardon My Take" - Dan Katz, Henry Lockwood and noted satirical character PFT Commenter.
It's a seismic shift. The Blackwells were behind-the-scenes owners rarely seen in the media for their entire ownership reign, but now the Breakers will be thrust into the spotlight.
The profile of the consortium alone has created the most interest in the Breakers in years, and Walsh has big goals to match.
"Our goal is to bring exciting and winning basketball for our fans, to give back to the community, and make the Breakers a sporting ambassador for New Zealand," Walsh said.
Fans will understandably get excited about that, and the inclusion of Marion. However, Marion is unlikely to be a major factor within the consortium, and it would be wise not to overreact to big names – after all, few would recognise the Blackwells in the street, but under their ownership, the Breakers delivered four Australian NBL titles.
The consortium will take on a more commercial approach, which is imperative considering the current Breakers season, which has seen crowds continue to decline to the point where general manager Dillon Boucher is concerned about sustainability.
Walsh, who will move from the United States to Auckland to be the hands-on owner, is confident in finding "a clear path to profitability".
"I think we're going to be able to bring some resources in terms of our NBA connections that will help the Breakers, and I also think we have some global sponsorships and commercial know-how that will help on that side as well."
Paul Blackwell, Matt Walsh, and Dillon Boucher. Photo / Photosport
Their brand might get an overseas boost from Katz, Lockwood and PFT Commenter, the trio who make up the world's most popular sports podcast, "Pardon My Take".
The podcast has a remarkably loyal following, which could be significant for the branding and recognition of the club.
However, the trio are all employed by New York-based Barstool Sports, a sports and men's lifestyle media organisation, while Walsh has appeared on multiple Barstool platforms. It is a curious fit for a Breakers club which loves to hammer home its emphasis on "family values".
While the somewhat-satirical podcast is free of controversy and unobjectionable, Barstool itself has a history of misogynistic and distasteful comments.
In the past, the Barstool owner Dave Portnoy has uttered the following:
Additionally, just this month, Barstool Radio host Patrick Connor called 17-year-old Olympian Chloe Kim a "little hot piece of ass", a comment which saw him fired from his other job at California radio station KNBR.
To be clear, none of the new ownership group have been involved in Barstool's many controversies, but it could be easily conceived as a tad hypocritical for the moralistic Breakers to welcome in part-owners with ties to that company.
However, Paul Blackwell, who is staying on as a director and minority shareholder, says the consortium led by Walsh is just as committed to maintaining the club's family values.
"We talked a lot about the fit necessary to maintain the core beliefs that the Breakers have grown from – the values and behaviours that are acceptable in our minds and the minds of the fans.
"Matt and I shared a familiar family focus and belief in foundations and principles."
Walsh knows it will be difficult to live up to the success achieved by the Blackwells, but is eager to try.
"They've set the bar really high, I'm not sure that we'll be able to do it, but I'm looking forward to the challenge."
Will the ownership change create a brighter future for the Breakers? At this stage, it's impossible to say.
But one thing is for sure – the future of the Breakers will certainly be more interesting.
New owners of the Breakers •Matt Walsh - Former NBA and European Basketball player for ten years. Minority owner of Swansea City and Principal at Lewaver Acquisitions. •Adam Goodman - Partner at Goodman Properties •Romie Chaudhari - CEO and Managing Principal at Chiron Investments. Owner and Board member of Swansea City •Dan Katz, Henry Lockwood, and PFT Commenter of the number one sports podcast on iTunes - Pardon My Take, presented by Barstool Sports •Shawn Marion - NBA Champion •Paul and Liz Blackwell, former majority owners of the Breakers
