Spirit Majority Owner Michele Kang wins Sports Business enterprise Journal’s “Deal of the Year”  » Washington Spirit

Washington, D.C. (05/25/2023) Sports Business enterprise Journal (SBJ) announced that Michele Kang has won “Deal of the Year” as a portion of its 16th Annual Sports Business 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 one particular of 5 nominees that integrated the Walton-Penner group’s acquisition of the Denver Broncos, Important 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 extra importantly, I see this as a business enterprise with amazing industrial viability,” stated Kang in her acceptance speech. “We’re not charity.” 

Upon acquiring the Washington Spirit for a record-setting $35 million on March 30, 2022, Kang became the 1st individual of colour to hold a majority stake in an NWSL club. Per SBJ, “The $35 million acquisition, the most costly in league history at the time, reset the market place for NWSL franchises, straight major to the league extracting a record $58 million expansion charge from the owners of the lately announced expansion group in the Bay Location.” 

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 specialist soccer in France. 

This move will bring collectively the Spirit and Lyon in a international network of women’s soccer clubs. It will turn into the 1st lady-owned and -led organization of its type, cementing Kang’s new mission of rewriting the narrative of what is attainable in women’s specialist soccer. 

Her commitment to establishing the Washington Spirit as a perennial powerhouse and globe-caliber specialist sporting organization has been evident ever considering the fact that she acquired the club.  

Paramount to Kang’s mission have been each hiring a fleet of particularly certified pros in numerous 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 get in touch with Audi Field its new household and hired some of the brightest minds in sport and business enterprise – President of Soccer Operations and Basic Manager Mark Krikorian, President of Business 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, one particular theme is constant: Kang’s commitment to establishing the Spirit as a globe-class organization. 

Aspect of Kang’s deal to obtain the Spirit came with the mandate of offering a globe-class practical experience and specialist item to fans. There are now extra solutions at every single cost point than the club has ever presented, like cost-effective season plans, pitch-side premium seating and an extended roof at Audi Field for extra 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 specialist 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 extra details about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and stick to the club on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.