Celebrities Who Have Invested in Community Sports

In the pulsating world of sports, the essence has always resided in the heart-stopping moments, the relentless perseverance of athletes, and the undying fervor of fans. But a new age is dawning where celebrities are becoming more involved. From buying minority stakes in sports teams like LeBron James and the Boston Red Sox, to outright purchasing entire clubs as with Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds who not so long ago bought Wrexham AFC.

But, that’s far from where celebrities are ending their involvement, with many also helping out in other ways. From those who reinvest in the communities where they grew up, to those who are inspiring the communities where their interests lie in the modern day. And we’re going to look at some examples of just how they are doing that.

Welcome to Wrexham

Years ago, Wrexham AFC were on the brink of financial collapse. And the thought of Hollywood royalty sitting in the seats of the Y Cae Ras was but a glimmer in the far distance of most fan’s dreams. However, in November 2020, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds teamed up to purchase the Welsh outfit.

Of the two, McElhenney’s involvement made more sense having been a sports enthusiast for some time, primarily following the Philidelphia Eagles. But, Ryan Reynolds was a surprise addition. Besides playing sports at school, he has little to no involvement outside of it. It would have seemed more of a natural step for Reynolds to invest in Canadian sports, being his home country and the fact that he owns multiple business ventures based in Canada already. Canada sports betting as a market, has grown exponentially over the years thanks to developments in the way betting is received by fans, with a big focus on accessibility. 

But it seems he has become enthralled with the Welsh club. For these Hollywood owners, the community is what makes the club, and knowing they are at the heart of it, they have done their best to help it prosper. Just earlier this year, Reynolds donated £1,600 to the FC United of Wrexham Futsal team, helping them buy new kits. And it doesn’t stop there, they’ve invested thousands in Wrexham’s academy toto to nurture homegrown talent.

The King Shares His Spoils

Ask anyone to name an NBA player, and 9/10 times you’ll be given the name LeBron James. A living legend in the sport who still plies his trade with the Los Angeles Lakers. And while many know about how he delivers on the court, not many know what King James does off the court.

Besides investing in sports teams and clubs like the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool FC, he also invests in underprivileged communities. One of his biggest impacts came through his partnership with Nike, where he founded the LeBron James Family Foundation, and helped to support the I Promise Makeover. Through both of these initiatives, James has helped distribute over 23,000 pairs of sneakers to those who cannot afford them.

In addition to that, the NBA star has also helped to fund multiple community programs that help to engage fans. These don’t just cover sports either, as he looks to also help teach people valuable life skills in an effort to draw people off the streets and help them stay on the straight and narrow.

So, while some people complain about celebrities earning far too much money for what they do. We do need to remember that not all of them just sit around in their ivory towers. Many often help invest in their communities and rarely disclose it because it’s not about publicising their doing good. Instead, it’s about helping those around them.