Alabama head coach Nick Saban has expanded his automotive business venture with Dream Motor Group, acquiring two Mercedes-Benz stores in South Florida in a substantial $700 million deal. Saban, already the owner of Mercedes locations in Birmingham, Baton Rouge, Nashville, and Houston, has been actively involved in the auto dealership business for several years.
Nick Saban is quietly building a massive car dealership business 📈
• Owns ~10 car dealerships
• Employs 500+ people
• Locations sell Mercedes & Ferrari’sAnd he recently closed a $700 million deal.
Here’s the story 👇
Nick Saban grew up in a mining town in West Virginia.… pic.twitter.com/P42me8lsu6
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) November 9, 2023
Dream Motor Group — co-owned by Nick Saban — has purchased two Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Florida for $700 million.
Saban’s portfolio now includes seven Mercedes locations and a Ferrari dealership.
(h/t @Automotive_News) pic.twitter.com/QJIBZCRO1f
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 9, 2023
However, the move hasn’t gone without scrutiny. Fans have criticized Saban, especially considering his recent comments about the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules. While not opposed to players earning compensation through NIL, Saban expressed concerns about the existing mechanisms, particularly the emergence of NIL collectives that pool money from boosters and businesses to facilitate deals for athletes.
“you don’t find that suspicious” -Dr.Umar pic.twitter.com/VdbWnsTmnE
— Quindell Daniels (@QuindellDaniels) November 9, 2023
He’s got some nerve to have his public opinion on NIL.
— Tweets by J (@HawkeySeason) November 9, 2023
All off the backs of his players skills.
— I’m The Prize. (@worldwide_ez) November 9, 2023
“My players shouldn’t be able to make a dime, but I can make hundreds of millions of dollars off of their hard work!”
— Jack (@FieldsAllProSZN) November 9, 2023
That’s not sus.
— DKRBEVO (@BrienDerrick3) November 9, 2023
Doesn’t he use these dealerships to skirt NIL rules?
— Nick Sharif (@SharifNick) November 9, 2023
And he is complaining about Deion huh? https://t.co/jsZvjxDMgu
— Black Panther 1968 (@Panther_1968) November 9, 2023
Look at what them “players not getting paid but u we’re” got ya Nick like stop ittttttt https://t.co/Pmh4Zwx5Jz
— 5-3 #SteelersNation #76ersNation (@GhfReg24) November 9, 2023
Saban highlighted potential issues, such as creating a “pay-for-play” environment that could influence recruiting decisions. He emphasized the importance of considering players’ academic and athletic goals and expressed the need for federal-level guidelines to ensure consistency across states, addressing the evolving landscape of NIL regulations.