ORANGE SLICE: JAMES HARDEN HAS A STAKE IN DYNAMO OWNERSHIP.
Rockets guard James Harden has joined the ownership group of the Dynamo, Dash and BBVA Stadium, the soccer franchises announced Thursday.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to join the ownership group of the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash and proud to be a part of a club with tremendous history and a great future,” Harden said in a team-released statement.
“Houston is my home now, and I saw this as a way to invest in my city and expand my business interests at the same time,” he said. “Soccer in general, and especially MLS, has exploded in this country throughout my lifetime. I’ve been a fan of the game for several years, and I know that Houston has a massive soccer fanbase, so it was an easy decision for me when this opportunity arose.”
Harden’s investment portfolio also includes the sports drink BodyArmor, Art of Sport (A.O.S.), a body- and skin-care brand tailored specifically for athletes, and the sock company Stance.
The Dynamo’s ownership group is led by majority owner Gabriel Brener, the CEO of the Brener International Group, a private investment firm with global business and investment interests.
“We are thrilled to welcome James into our club. He’s an icon in the Houston community, and not only is he a great basketball player, he has an extremely smart and savvy mind for business,” Brener said. “James will bring a very unique perspective to our ownership group, and I’m looking forward to hearing his thoughts and opinions on the club going forward.”
Harden is the second high-profile athlete in the ownership group, which also includes former world champion and Olympic boxer Oscar De La Hoya.
“James is already at the top of the game in his sport, so it’s only natural to want to take on new challenges beyond the court,” De La Hoya said. “He knows the drive and the determination it takes to be the absolute best, and I’m excited that he’s going to bring that attitude to our club.”
How much of a stake or the cost of Harden’s ownership stake was not disclosed.
In the most recent MLS franchise valuations by Forbes, the Dynamo were ranked No. 16 of 23 teams with a value of $220 million. Atlanta was No. 1 at $330 million.