By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
January 8, 2007
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Duke co-captains Brian Davis and Christian Laettner wore black and red soccer scarves instead of basketball jerseys Monday as MLS unveiled a new, minority-led ownership group that is paying a league-record $33 million for the operating rights to D.C. United.
Now comes the hard part -- finding a way to build the team a new stadium in the poorest section of the city.
Davis and Laettner joined a group called D.C. United Holdings and led by San Francisco businessmen Victor MacFarlane and Will Chang. MacFarlane and Davis are the first black owners in MLS, commissioner Don Garber said. Chang, one of the owners of baseball's San Francisco Giants, is the first Chinese-American MLS owner, according to Garber.
"Soccer is the No. 1 sport for people of color all around the world, but not here in the U.S. -- yet," MacFarlane said. "We want to be part of the change that is now on the horizon. We would love to help make soccer the sport that African-Americans and other children of color first look to for recreation and entertainment."
The new owners will now focus on building a stadium on the south bank of the Anacostia River, across the river from the site of the new Washington Nationals ballpark. The soccer stadium will cost $150 million to $200 million, and the goal is to complete it by the 2009 season on land now owned by the National Park Service.
The group said it plans to add three more members: Discovery Communications founder John Hendricks, Black Entertainment Television talk show host Carlos Watson, and California real estate developer Allen Warren. In MLS, the teams are all owned by the league but operated individually.
United's rights had been owned by the Anschutz Entertainment Group. AEG owned the rights to as many as six teams at one point, but it is now down to three in a league that is expanding to 13 teams this year.
The sale is not expected to affect the day-to-day operations of a flagship franchise that has won a record four MLS titles. Kevin Payne will remain the team's president.
Davis and Laettner are also part of a group trying to buy the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies' current owner said last month the Davis-Laettner group had until Jan. 15 to come up with the money but added he doubted they would meet that deadline.
"All I can say right now is we're working on it," Laettner said Monday.
Group buys United for $33 millionBy Jonathan Nierman / MLSnet.com Staff
D.C. United press release >
About D.C. United Holdings >
D.C. United announced Monday that Victor B. MacFarlane will head a new ownership group for the Major League Soccer club, having completed the purchase from AEG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, for $33 million. Co-owners will include William H.C. "Will" Chang and former Duke basketball players Brian Davis and Christian Laettner.
"I am proud not only to assume ownership of the premier professional soccer team in the United States, but to do so as an African-American," said MacFarlane, who will serve as the new ownership group's controlling member in league matters. "Our group is dedicated to supporting the organization so that the team continues to build on its history of excellence."
MacFarlane is founder and managing principal of MacFarlane Partners, one of the leading minority-owned real estate investment management firms in the U.S., with $11.7 billion in assets under management. Chang is chairman of the global investment firm Westlake International Group and one of the owners of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants, while Davis and Christian Laettner are co-managing members of Blue Devil Partners, a real estate development firm in Durham, N.C. The pair won NCAA basketball championships while playing with Duke in 1991 and '92; Laettner also played in the NBA for 13 seasons.
Also, discussions are ongoing to extend ownership interests to John S. Hendricks, founder of the Discovery Channel, who was also a founder of the Women's United Soccer Association.
"It is exciting to present this diverse and local ownership group to the District of Columbia," said Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty. "To have African-Americans own one of the District's major league sports teams is a tribute to this city, its citizens and our future. Everyone should be congratulated on this purchase. This is an historic event for D.C., and will put in motion even greater changes for our world-class city. I very much look forward to working with D.C. United as they continue their development plans and their service to the community through their wonderful charitable programs for our youth."
D.C. United President and CEO Kevin Payne and all other front office staff will continue to run the day-to-day business of the club. Payne has been associated with the club since its inception in 1996.
"D.C. United is guided by two missions: winning championships and serving the community, and our new ownership group shares in those goals," said Payne. "We look forward to the next chapter in D.C. United history with great anticipation and are excited to begin work with Victor, Will and Brian to carry D.C. United to a whole new level. On behalf of the players, the staff and the fans of D.C. United, I'd like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Phil Anschutz, Tim Leiweke and AEG for five terrific years together."
The new ownership group is the third to have owned the club. D.C. United was owned by Washington Soccer, L.P., initially, before it was purchased by AEG in 2001.
"As a business decision, this agreement makes sense as it will bring a very bright and motivated ownership group to MLS," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG. "However, from an emotional standpoint, we will truly miss this great franchise and the tremendous organization that Kevin Payne has assembled. From top to bottom, on and off the field, D.C. United was an example of a prototypical franchise that every team should strive to emulate.
"At the end of the day, we believe that it is in the best interest for the continued growth and success of the League for us to enter into this transaction," Leiweke continued. "We are very fortunate to be partners with Victor MacFarlane. He and his ownership group share our commitment and passion for the sport and will be great partners for the league."
