Investor group led by Vietnamese American capitalist unveils new MLS soccer club
Investor group led by Vietnamese American capitalist unveils new MLS soccer club
A 22-person group led by Vietnamese-American venture capitalist Henry Nguyen unveiled Thursday their franchise ownership of a new football (soccer) team to compete in the Major League Soccer (MLS) starting in 2017.
The awarding of a new team to the ownership group marked the beginning of “a new era for Major League Soccer,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced the same day.
“We are thrilled to welcome Henry Nguyen, Peter Guber, Tom Penn and their owner partners to Major League Soccer,” Garber said on the MLS website (www.mlssoccer.com).
“This visionary ownership group will chart a course that will further elevate the sport in this great city and, combined with a new state-of-the-art stadium, accelerate us down the path toward becoming one of the top soccer leagues in the world.”
The new club is scheduled to debut in 2017 in a new soccer stadium in the greater Los Angeles area built specifically for the team, according to the MLS website, which also said the team’s brand identity, along with the front office and coaching and administrative staff will be announced later.
Besides Henry Nguyen, the group is also led by Peter Guber, co-owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors, and former NBA executive-turned-television analyst Tom Penn, according to Reuters.
Nguyen is the managing partner of the new MLS club, whereas Guber will serve as its executive chairman.
Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and U.S. soccer great Mia Hamm, Malaysian Vincent Tan, owner of English league club Cardiff City, former Major League Baseball player Nomar Garciaparra, who is Hamm's husband, and motivational speaker Tony Robbins are also among the owners.
“We believe this team can become one of the most outstanding clubs in Major League Soccer and a globally-recognized brand,” Nguyen said on the MLS website.
The new team has a working name of the Los Angeles Football Club, and will compete with the four-time MLS champions LA Galaxy to win over Los Angeles fans, according to Reuters.
“The business of sports and entertainment is all about winning on the field and providing an exciting product that will develop a passionate and loyal fan base,” Guber said. “The Los Angeles market has millions of soccer supporters, and we know that this new team can fulfill the promise of success on the field and provide a great experience for our fans.”
Nguyen, who is managing general partner of IDG Ventures Vietnam, graduated from Harvard University and earned his MD and MBA from Northwestern University Medical School and the Kellogg School of Management, according to the MLS website.
Nguyen is known as the man who brought McDonald’s to Vietnam after the world’s largest hamburger fast food chain named him the developmental licensee to build its brand in Vietnam in July, 2013.
Having a great passion for sports, Nguyen is also the chairman of XLE, the company that owns the Saigon Heat, Vietnam’s first professional basketball team.
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league representing the sport's highest level in both the United States and Canada.
The league is composed of 19 teams – 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada. The MLS regular season runs from March to October, with each team playing 34 games.
Many international football stars have played in the MLS, including David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Kaka and David Villa.
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