The owners of EPL side Crystal Palace are on the verge of bringing in new U.S. investment that will make the club "as strong as it's been for a hundred years," according to Matt Slater of the BBC. The deal would see David Blitzer and Josh Harris, who co-own NHL and NBA franchises, "take minority stakes in Palace." Co-Chair Steve Parish said he was "really hopeful we can get it done." Improvements to the club's Selhurst Park home "will be the priority, with Parish retaining day-to-day control." Blitzer and Harris "are expected to take equal 18% shareholdings with Parish." His partners in that deal -- fellow Palace fans Stephen Browett, Jeremy Hosking and Martin Long -- "will see their current 25% stakes diluted to 15.33%." Parish said, "I think this club can be massive and it's a great opportunity. I want to move fast and to do that you need big funds. I'm prepared to do my bit, the three boys who are involved with me are prepared to do their bit. But we need to bring some new people in to accelerate it and make sure we've got everything we need." Conversations with Blitzer and Harris "have been going on for over a year" (BBC, 11/17).
