Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon invests $ 250 million in AAF

Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has invested $ 250 million in the new US football alliance and will become the new president of the league.

Athletic announced that the league risked not receiving a salary on Friday, before Dundon's investment. AAF co-founder, Charlie Ebersol, dismissed reports that the league was in the process of obtaining a bailout from Dundon.

"This has been a tremendous undertaking for us," said Ebersol, who, less than a year ago, is associated with the Pro Football Hall of Fame executive, Bill Polian, to create the AAF. "It's a huge challenge and opportunity, and as a start-up, you're always looking for peace of mind – when we had the first week of games, we found that investors were generating so much 'interest could take care of us for a very long time, that would be great.'

The eight-team AAF team started the weekend after the Super Bowl. Considered a development league, the 10-game regular season will end with a championship game on April 27. CBS aired both opening games and the League said more than 6 million people had watched the AAF during its maiden weekend.

"As a sports fan and longtime entrepreneur, I've always enjoyed the opportunities generated by the sport and entertainment ecosystem," said Dundon in a statement issued by the AAF. "I am impressed by the amazing growth of the Alliance in stadiums, on television, on mobile media and on social networks, in recent weeks alone."

Ebersol said in a statement that "Tom, Bill Polian and I will be working with our great Alliance team to develop our football business and technology activities." Tom is an American self-taught success story that brings a wealth of knowledge to the game. sport, the world of entertainment and finance, and proven leadership towards our organization. "

Dundon is the newest owner of the NHL. The Dallas billionaire took control in January 2018, acquiring a majority stake in long-time owner Peter Karmanos Jr.

The Hurricanes issued a statement from general manager Don Waddell, reiterating Dundon's commitment to the NHL franchise.

"Tom is excited by the direction taken by the Carolina Hurricanes and remains fully committed to the current and future success of this franchise in Raleigh," said Waddell.

Dundon, 47, is the former CEO of the Santander Consumer USA lending company, based in Dallas. He is the co-founder of Trinity Forest Golf Club Dallas, home of the AT & T Byron Nelson PGA Tour, majority owner of Employer Direct Healthcare, health services company and lead investor in Topgolf.

The Hurricanes have not participated in the playoffs since 2009 – the longest drought in the NHL, and Dundon is committed to bringing new energy to the franchise, which has emerged this season with celebrations after -match elaborated after home wins.

After leaving Hartford, Connecticut in 1997, there were rumors of offshoring rumors about the relocation of the Hurricanes. However, when Dundon became the majority owner, he agreed not to apply for relocation for seven years, which is a standard NHL purchase agreement.

In an email, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Dundon did not need permission from the NHL to make this investment in another sporting entity. When asked if the league was concerned that hurricanes would be affected by a property pumping an investment of this size into another company, Daly replied, "No.

Greg Wyshynski of ESPN contributed to this report.