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Washington, D.C. (05/25/2023) Sports Enterprise Journal (SBJ) announced that Michele Kang has won “Deal of the Year” as a component of its 16th Annual Sports Enterprise Awards for her 2022 acquisition of the Washington Spirit.
Kang, who was chosen by SBJ as a 2022 Energy Player in Women’s Sports, was 1 of 5 nominees that integrated the Walton-Penner group’s acquisition of the Denver Broncos, Key League Soccer and Apple’s ten-year media rights agreement, the Major Ten Conference’s seven-year media rights agreement with FOX, CBS and NBC amongst other folks. She was the only lady represented.
“As a female entrepreneur who has some sources, I felt this was my duty. But much more importantly, I see this as a small business with unbelievable industrial viability,” stated Kang in her acceptance speech. “We’re not charity.”
Upon getting the Washington Spirit for a record-setting $35 million on March 30, 2022, Kang became the 1st particular person of colour to hold a majority stake in an NWSL club. Per SBJ, “The $35 million acquisition, the most pricey in league history at the time, reset the industry for NWSL franchises, straight top to the league extracting a record $58 million expansion charge from the owners of the lately announced expansion group in the Bay Region.”
Her SBJ “Deal of the Year” victory also came on the heels of her acquisition of eight-time Champions League-winning French club Olympique Lyonnais (OL). OL competes in Division 1 Féminine, the highest level of women’s expert soccer in France.
This move will bring collectively the Spirit and Lyon in a worldwide network of women’s soccer clubs. It will grow to be the 1st lady-owned and -led organization of its type, cementing Kang’s new mission of rewriting the narrative of what is feasible in women’s expert soccer.
Her commitment to establishing the Washington Spirit as a perennial powerhouse and globe-caliber expert sporting organization has been evident ever because she acquired the club.
Paramount to Kang’s mission had been each hiring a fleet of particularly certified pros in various roles across the organization and establishing an exclusive, state-of-the-art stadium positioned in Washington, D.C.
Not even a year into her tenure as owner, Kang effectively executed each of these ambitions as the club struck a multi-year deal to contact Audi Field its new property and hired some of the brightest minds in sport and small business – President of Soccer Operations and Basic Manager Mark Krikorian, President of Enterprise Operations Emma Could, Head Coach Mark Parsons and Vice President of Functionality, Healthcare and Innovation Dawn Scott.
Amongst the Spirit’s newly established leadership, 1 theme is constant: Kang’s commitment to establishing the Spirit as a globe-class organization.
Portion of Kang’s deal to obtain the Spirit came with the mandate of supplying a globe-class expertise and expert item to fans. There are now much more selections at each and every price tag point than the club has ever provided, like cost-effective season plans, pitch-side premium seating and an extended roof at Audi Field for much more coverage from the components.
To obtain tickets for a Washington Spirit game, please click right here.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the expert women’s soccer group primarily based at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Launched in 2012, the Spirit plays in the National Women’s Soccer League, the premier women’s soccer competitors in North America. For much more data about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and comply with the club on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
