Sheffield-born US businessman Adam Shaw has laid down his future plans for Sheffield Wednesday in a new interview with The Athletic.
Shaw, headquartered in Florida, is leading a 16-person consortium to buy the Owls, which includes current and former Major League Baseball stars, an ex-Premier League player, and a well-known celebrity.
However, American investor John Flanagan is the only other member of the group who has been officially identified thus far.
So far, current chairman Dejphon Chansiri has rejected the consortium’s two bids for $65 million and $75 million.
Adam Shaw’s vision for Sheffield Wednesday: upgraded Hillsborough, world class facilities and a new stadium
Shaw, a longtime Wednesdayite, is clear that his group’s goals are more than just ownership; they include modernisation, infrastructure, and the Owls’ global reach.
“There is no Sheffield Wednesday in America. We sell zero shirts and have no commercial presence there; that needs to change,” he told The Athletic.
“With the World Cup in the United States next year and the players in our ownership group, we might easily become Florida’s English football team.
“We should and can be much bigger than Wrexham.” Ryan Reynolds would sacrifice his left leg for what we have now on Wednesday in terms of history and popularity. “Let’s use that.”
| Sheffield Wednesday’s 24/25 Championship finish | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Team | Played | Goal difference | Points |
| 11 | Swansea City | 46 | -5 | 61 |
| 12 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | -9 | 58 |
| 13 | Norwich City | 46 | +3 | 57 |
Haw’s material goals include an urgent makeover of the club’s stadium, academy, and training facilities, with the goal of establishing them as the best in the country.
“We are Sheffield Wednesday – we are a big enough club to create the best academy and training facilities in the UK if we put our minds to it,” Shaw told the crowd.
“Let’s get Hillsborough completely open and provide fans with decent food and drink, as well as friendly service.
“We’d also really like to see if we can wrap three of the sides, to create a more modern, bowl effect, but we would leave the South Stand alone, as we want a mix of old and new.”
Moving forward, Shaw’s consortium has even proposed shifting to a new, 55,000-capacity stadium in “perhaps five years,” albeit he stresses this would be done in complete consultation with fans.
“We wouldn’t do anything without consulting the fans, but we think the club should have a home where people can park more easily and have up-to-date facilities,” says Shaw.
“If we want to build a culture that assures we become a long-term, competitive, and successful Premier League team, we must be proactive. The Premier League clubs are all modernizing their stadiums.
US consortium offer commitments to Sheffield Wednesday supporters amid takeover attempts
Shaw’s argument to supporters is based on a sense that Wednesday should become more inclusive, linked to its community, and honorable in acknowledging its heritage.
Shaw, a mental health campaigner, wants the club to take a fresh look at the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. because he claims that “one way to overcome something that traumatic is to embrace what happened for all those affected.” .
His engagement plans include matchdays. Shaw promised to make tickets more inexpensive and to launch a program that would give out up to 5,000 free seats per game to key employees and military personnel.
“I know this is an American tradition, but I believe all Sheffield Wednesday fans would get behind this initiative,” Shaw remarked.
“It’s the very least our great club can do for all those brave first-responders and military personnel who have sacrificed so much for others every single day of their lives.”
He also wants to see increased fan involvement on the board of directors, improvements to the club’s merchandise and retail operations, and a return to a more conventional rendition of the renowned owl crest.
Shaw also expressed his support for current manager Danny Rohl, who is still at odds with Chansiri, and it is unclear whether the German would return to work after seeking a change since the 2024-25 season concluded.
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