What you need to know
- Several celebrities have joined together to own the Seattle Sounders soccer team.
- The ownership group includes Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, and rapper Macklemore.
- The new owners join an already recognizable ownership group including Drew Carey, and Jody Allen.
Rather than acquiring new players, the Seattle Sounders soccer team has added several new owners (via The Verge). A joint ownership group led by former Microsoft executive Terry Myerson joins Adrian Hanauer, Drew Carey, and Jody Allen in owning the team. The new ownership group includes several celebrities from multiple spheres, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft Corporate Vice President of experiences and devices Joe Belfiore, rapper Macklemore, pop star Ciara and her husband NFL quarterback Russell Wilson.
Myerson led the charge to bring the new ownership group together. A California-based investment group expressed interest in the team following Sounders FC founder Joe Roth deciding to sell his equity in the team. Several in the Seattle area were concerned that an investment group from outside of Seattle would move the team. The new ownership group is focused on keeping the team in Seattle. Myerson explained his focus on Seattle in a blog post "I would need to find a group of like-minded people, who were willing to invest in the Sounders as a pillar of the Seattle community, and were willing to make the bet that soccer would grow in popularity along with me."
Myerson gathered an impressive list of owners for the team which each gave statements on the purchase in the team's announcement post. Here is the full list of the new ownership group.
- Russell Wilson & Ciara
- Soma & Akila Somasegar
- David & Sabina Nathanson
- Satya & Anu Nadella
- Terry & Katie Myerson
- Brian McAndrews & Elise Holschuh
- Macklemore & Tricia Davis
- Amy Hood & Max Kleinman
- Chee & Christine Chew
- Joe & Kristina Belfiore
- Mark & Tomoko Agne
Myerson emailed Nadella, and several other prominent names connected to Microsoft jumped on board including Microsoft CFO Amy Hood and former Microsoft Program Manager Christine Chew. Myerson partnered with capital firm Madrona, and subsequently, several other celebrities joined the group, including Wilson and Macklemore.
The new ownership group joins the current ownership contingent of Adrian Hanauer, Drew Carey, and Jody Allen. Hanauer expressed the importance of keeping the Sounders in the Seattle area.
We are doubling down on this community and growing our local roots even deeper. Sounders FC was born right here in Seattle, and for more than 40 years, the club has forged a meaningful legacy that is deep and far-reaching. Today's news is a testament to what our community has accomplished, as 11 new families have joined with the broader Sounders family as fans and invested stewards of our club.
The star-studded ownership group will help keep Sounders FC in Seattle and help build the club going forward.
Portable (and affordable) power accessories we love
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VisionTek 8,000 mAh micro-USB power bank ($13 at Dell)
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Panasonic eneloop AA batteries (From $13 at Dell)
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Belkin Qi Wireless Charging Pad ($30 at Dell)
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