The Original MLS I/O Groups, who were they?

Discussion in 'MLS: General' started by peledre, Apr 7, 2003.

  1. peledre

    peledre Member

    Mar 25, 2001
    Sioux Falls, SD
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    OK, i need some data on the original MLS investor groups.

    I know Anschutz was Colorado, Hunt was Columbus and KC, Kluge and Subotnick was NY/NJ, Kraft was NE. Also didn't a Japanese company (dentsu or something) originally operate one of the california teams.
     
  2. Andy_B

    Andy_B Member+

    Feb 2, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No, this was always talked about but never came to fruition when the bottom fell out of the Japanese stock market in the late 90's.

    LA was run by LA Soccer Partners, headed by Los Angeles investor Marc Rapaport.

    DC was run by API Soccer, headed by Kevin Payne, with money from George Soros.

    Dallas, Tampa and San Jose are league owned teams in 1996 if memory serves.

    Andy
     
  3. peledre

    peledre Member

    Mar 25, 2001
    Sioux Falls, SD
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Just found all the info on MLSnet.com, thanks for your help though Andy.
     
  4. Goodsport

    Goodsport Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 18, 1999
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp In 1998, Alan Rothenberg (who was set to cash in on his Type C stock in the league) and Dentsu (one of the largest Japanese advertising agencies) were about to become the Investor/Operators in San Jose.

    &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp As Andy_B mentioned, though, the Asian Stock Market Crash that year forced Dentsu to pull out of the deal at the eleventh hour, forcing Rothenberg to follow suit.


    -G
     
  5. scaryice

    scaryice Member

    Jan 25, 2001
    I have a question. In some reports, DC's ownership group is referred to as API Soccer, while in others it's Washington Soccer, LP. Why is that?
     
  6. wolfp10

    wolfp10 Member

    Sep 25, 2005
    New England has always been owned and operated by the Kraft Family.
     
  7. dice50

    dice50 New Member

    Oct 4, 2000
    Norman, Oklahoma
    I wonder if any of those former I/O would be interested in getting back into the league now that we are in a better financial state? Or at least investing in SUM?
     

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