York United FC of the Canadian Premier League officially have new ownership, after an announcement Thursday that Game Plan Sports Group has purchased the club from Canadian Soccer Business (CSB), with the newly-formed group of investors taking immediate control of the club.
“York United FC represents an incredibly important market for the CPL. We bought the club believing that the right stewards can make it a model club in our league. In Game Plan Sports Group we have found just that: an experienced, world-class ownership team that is committed to developing York United FC into the thriving, first-rate organization we know it can be,” said Mark Noonan, CEO, Canadian Soccer Business and Commissioner, Canadian Premier League.
“They have the soccer and business acumen necessary to take York United to new heights. I am particularly excited for the soccer-mad community in the Greater Toronto Area to have this group breathing new life into one of our founding clubs.”
Game Plan Sports Group (GSPG) consists of a core ownership team that boasts a wide array of global experience across the consumer goods, beverage, retail, marketing, media and sports industries, led by businessmen and brothers Eduardo, Ricardo and Miguel Pasquel. As part of the day-to-day operation of the club, Eduardo will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of York United, Ricardo will step in as President and General Manager of the club and Miguel will serve as Chief Commercial Officer and Head of New Strategy Alliances. All three will make permanent moves with their families to Toronto in the coming months.
The ownership group has deep ties to, and expertise in, soccer and shares a passion for playing their part in growing the game on the field in Canada, generating opportunities off it for Canadians and building and elevating the community around the club. The group consists of several other prominent investors from Mexico, including a pair of respected family offices with experience in the consumer goods and retail sectors who are connected to two multinational companies, one of them with a strong presence in Ontario and Canada.
“We want to thank Commissioner Noonan and the CPL Board for their backing and collaboration throughout this process,” said Eduardo Pasquel, CEO, York United FC.
“We are an ambitious group that has lived and breathed soccer all our lives, and we plan to make a massive contribution to growing the game in Canada. On the field, we not only expect to deliver trophies to this club by building competitive squads that will fight for championships year in and year out, but to simultaneously develop the next generation of soccer stars through an ambitious plan to invest in young athletes that will get more Canadians involved in the game. Off the field, we are committed to understanding the needs of our supporters and the community to create a better fan experience for all. By making a permanent move to Canada with our families, we will be able to ingrain ourselves into the fabric of the area. We can’t wait to build a special legacy within this club and this community. We are all in on Canadian soccer.”
The Pasquel brothers are continuing a family tradition of investing and working in sport by taking the helm of the York United. Both their maternal and paternal grandfathers, one of whom played professionally in Mexico’s Liga MX for Club Necaxa and Club América, have owned professional sport franchises, including Club Necaxa. Their father Miguel Pasquel Sr. previously served as the General Secretary and Chief Financial Officer for the Mexican Football Federation.
York United FC will host an in-person introductory press conference with Eduardo, Ricardo and Miguel Pasquel in early December. Further details about the availability will be provided as they become available.