Major League Soccer has learned over its three-decade existence that a significant boost comes from including the famous faces of local sports and entertainment celebrities in its ownership groups.
And so it was Thursday morning at Snapdragon Stadium that a few minutes after Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan tribe were announced as the lead investors for the San Diego MLS franchise, Padres third baseman Manny Machado was introduced as part of the ownership group.
Machado was the sizzle to Mansour and Sycuan’s steak.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to the San Diego MLS ownership group,” Machado said in a statement before speaking with the media. “I continue to plant roots in this amazing community that means so much to me and build upon my connection with the incredible fans
“I’m further encouraged by the club’s commitment and experience that it brings, through Right to Dream, in developing young athletes personally, academically and athletically, and excited to the growth of soccer in San Diego.”
Right to Dream is the youth soccer academy that has housed, trained and educated hundreds of players in Egypt, Ghana and Denmark.
It plans to do similarly with the San Diego academy accompanying the MLS franchise.
The concept was compared to the baseball academies in places like the Dominican Republic that have developed youth in other countries.
“Very similar,” Machado said. “That’s what’s interesting. We’re going to try to be committed as much as we can, especially with Right to Dream.
“I think that’s going to be more where we drift off to, try and help the younger generation. Give them as much as I can.”
Machado spoke while wearing a black brace on his left hand to help heal a hairline fracture in the third metacarpal, where he was hit by a pitch in Monday’s game against Kansas City.
This is Machado’s fifth season with the Padres. His commitment to the franchise and the city was evident in spring training when Machado signed an 11-year, $350 million extension.
He said this was another example of his dedication to San Diego.
“We made a commitment when we came here,” said Machado, who lives in Coronado with his wife Yainee. “We made a commitment to grow this community, to set our roots in this community.
“We’re going to continue to do that. We’re not going to stop. This community has been great to us, it’s been great to the city. I just want to see the city continue to thrive.”
Asked how closely he follows the beautiful game, Machado said, “I’m a pretty good soccer fan.”
“I follow my Champions League,” he said. “More in Europe. I’ve got to get a little more into the MLS. That’s my homework from now on. … I’ve been a soccer fan for about 10 years now. I’m looking forward to this and learning a little more and continue to grow.”
Added Machado: “I think it’s going to be huge. I think soccer is one of the most electric sports you can have.”
Tom Penn, who was introduced as CEO of the new San Diego franchise, is the former president of LAFC, whose ownership group includes comedian Will Ferrell, NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, soccer star Mia Hamm and her husband, former Red Sox star Nomar Garciaparra.
Penn said making Machado part of the San Diego ownership was a natural fit.
“When the founding core group was together,” Penn said, “we determined that we’d like to add a handful of strategic celebrity folks that have either one of two things, a really authentic connection to this city, or an authentic connection to the Right to Dream. Or both. …
“Manny is a rockstar, a superstar in town. Not for just what he does on the field but for what he represents to the community. So it felt like the perfect local partner to kick things off with.”
Celebrity ownership stakes can be seen across MLS.
Angel City FC counts actresses Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria, tennis’ Serena Williams and former soccer stars Abby Wambach and Shannon Boxx among its owners.
Other actors with MLS stakes include Matthew McConaughey with Austin FC and Reese Witherspoon with Nashville SC.
Basketball player James Harden and boxer Oscar de la Hoya are part owners of the Houston Dynamo, while quarterback Patrick Mahomes is aligned with Sporting KC, basketball player Kevin Durant with Philadelphia Union and baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. with Seattle Sounders FC.
Asked what Machado’s percent of ownership is, Penn said, “Can’t disclose that, but it’s significant.”
“They’re here. They’re local,” Penn added. “The ability to plug in with what we’re going to do at the academy level. And the ability to just be a part of our family. We’ll see organically where it goes.
“What we’ve always said is it’s not about financial capital. It’s about your reputational capital, your relational capital. And can you bring your heart to this?
“We don’t want engers. We want participants. We want it to be a willing engagement.”
