New owners aim to give Hapoel Jerusalem a much needed booster shot

For over two decades the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball club has had the second-highest budget in the Israeli league, which may have been enough to help it win a number of state cups and, in 2004, the prestigious EURO (then called ULEB) Cup, but never the championship.

Now, its new owners are determined to move it out from under the shadow of perennial rival Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Last week, a diverse business group which includes NBA superstar Amare Stoudamire purchased 60 percent of Hapoel. The deal was officially finalized Wednesday.

Consisting of Jerusalem-born, high-tech businessman Ori Allon, NBA superagent Arn Tellem, Stoudamire, and advertising giant Eyal Chomski, the ownership group promises to bring a fresh start and new way of management to the team.

“My goal is to not win a championship for one year, it’s about building a team that will be consistent,” Allon told the Times of Israel in a recent interview.

Allon, 32, who founded and developed Julpan and Orion before selling them to Google and Twitter, is the driving force behind the group. Known more for his skills in the high-tech and business world than on the court, Allon says the purchase is a way “to give back to Israel and the city… I know how important Hapoel Jerusalem is to the people of Jerusalem. It provides joy, pride, and excitement.”

Allon made it clear that he relies on the help of the others involved in the group. “I don’t have experience running a sports team. I wanted to partner with guys who know a lot about the business,” he said. “I know what I am good at in the start-up world, but I wanted to hire the best people around.”

Allon aims to “create a professional basketball team with the right management that will focus on the long term… It’s not about the next one or two years; we want to build the right foundation and infrastructure, so that we can really carry this team forward,” he said.

“We want to play in the highest level in Israel and Europe,” Allon stressed. “Whether you win [a] championship or not can be determined by a three-pointer at the last second, and that is something I cannot control.” Things that can be controlled, he said, are hiring the right coaching staff and developing young, local talent. “I believe there is a lot [of] talent in Israel. My approach is, if we follow all of these guidelines, everything else will follow.”

The purchase became official when the Hapoel Jerusalem Organization decided not to match the Allon group’s offer. The Organization is led by former club chairman Danny Klein, who’s been involved with the team for over 20 years.

Allon said he respects everything Klein has done for the organization and would welcome every investor who wants to make Hapoel Jerusalem successful in the long-term.

The Malcha Brigade, Hapoel Jerusalem’s loyal diehard fan club, has welcomed Allon’s group with open arms. Allon believes the fans might not exactly understand why the other members of his group have decided to invest in the team, but they surely understand his role.

“I think they are happy because they know I am one of them. I was in Malcha [stadium] at age 12-18 watching every game. I am a fan and I want to do the right thing for Hapoel Jerusalem,” Allon stated. “It’s not just about winning championships — fans want us to do things the right way. They want a team they are proud of.“