DJR HITS HOME RUN WITH NEW MAJOR STAKEHOLDER
Australian professional baseball team Melbourne Aces has expanded its presence in the sporting capital of the world by acquiring a major stake in Australia’s oldest and most successful supercars motorsport team, Dick Johnson Racing.
Owned by the Ralph family, the Melbourne Aces have invested heavily in sporting organizations across the country.
With two cars competing in the Supercars Championship, Car No. 11 driven by Anton De Pasquale and Car No. 17 driven by Will Davison, the Melbourne Aces have bought into a famous sporting institution.
De Pasquale has been a sports ambassador for the Melbourne Aces and has attended many games at Melbourne Ballpark during the break in sports. Anton also had the honor of throwing the first pitch of the game.
Dick Johnson and Ryan Story will continue to hold significant interests and continue to operate as before.
“I’m delighted to announce today the team’s partnership with the Ralph family,” the story told Supercars’ official website.
“Brett and the Ralph family are strategic investors in DJR, with the current management structure that we have in place to continue the business as before.
“Brett and the Ralph family are amazing people and we couldn’t imagine working with anyone else.
“They are extremely experienced businessmen with an undeniable passion for the sport.
“From the moment I first spoke to Brett, he and I just clicked and I knew we were going to have a fantastic working relationship.”
Melbourne Aces owner Brett Ralph spoke about the buy-in and the Aces’ intentions to buy into Australia’s sporting landscape.
“The Melbourne Aces are a major player on the Australian sporting scene through their involvement in the Australian Baseball League over the past 13 years and are the current holders of the prestigious Claxton Shield, the second oldest trophy in Australian sport,” said Ralph.
“To be successful in sport today, all sporting organizations need to be run like one company and consider different investment opportunities. We know and understand the reach and appeal of the Repco Supercars Championship to sports fans in Australia and we are very excited to be a part of it. Dick Johnson Racing has a proud and rich history in the sport and is a perfect partner for the Melbourne Aces.”
The Melbourne Aces also acquired a major stake in Melbourne Storm and Sunshine Coast Lightning in January 2020.
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