After weeks, and even months of speculation, Club Atlas has finally found a buyer in TV Azteca. The team from Zapopan had been officially for sale since the end of the Apertura 2013, for an estimated $50 million. This Monday, November 25, 2013, the ‘rojinegros’ were bought by Mexican television giants, TV Azteca, in what once again raises the question of multi-ownership in the Liga MX.
According to ElUniversal.mx, TV Azteca bought the shares of the 124 associates for an estimated $500 million pesos, plus the IVA (taxes). Although this brings serenity to the team which had suffered economical issues for some seasons now, it also raises questions in the new multi-ownership rules established by the new Liga MX just last May.
In the new guidelines, no owner can control more than one team in the first division beginning in five years from the established rule. TV Azteca owns Monarcas Morelia, therefore by buying Atlas they will eventually be forced to sell the team. The rule, if broken, will force one of the teams in the multi-ownership to be immediately demoted into the Ascenso MX.
With TV Azteca buying the ‘rojinegros’, the team from Zapopan will have economic security which will allow for the signing of star players, and to hopefully take the team into the first places. One thing is for sure though, TV Azteca bought Atlas as an investment project; they will attempt to improve the value of the team within four years, with the idea of re-selling it before the new Liga MX multi-ownership rules are applied.
