Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is officially part of the Philadelphia Union's ownership group.
Durant purchased a five percent ownership stake in the club, and he has an option to buy an additional five percent in the near future.
“I’m excited to partner with the Philadelphia Union for years to come. My team and I connected instantly with the Union coaching staff and leadership, as well as the team’s story,” Durant said in a club press release. “Off the pitch, I’m looking forward to working in the Chester and Philadelphia communities and making an impact in the same way that the KDCF has been able to in my hometown of Prince George's County.”
“The partnership between Kevin and the Philadelphia Union is based on a set of shared values and philosophies,” Union principal owner Jay Sugarman said. “We want to be known as an innovator in our league and a team that is never satisfied with the status quo. Kevin brings us unique perspectives as a person, as a champion, and as a sports icon. His work with the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation has shown he has a community-first mindset that resonates with our club’s DNA. Combined with his competitive drive and forward-thinking mentality, we believe Kevin adds a key piece in reaching our ambitions for the club.”
Durant initially met with the Union in December, when he was pictured in the Union's offices in Chester with Sugarman and head coach Jim Curtin.
As part of the ownership partnership, Durant's Thirty Five Ventures committed to doing work in the community alongside the Union.
“We are excited to bring our expertise to this partnership and help expand the Philadelphia Union’s footprint not only in soccer, but the sports world as a whole,” Thirty Five Ventures partner Rich Kleiman said. “We set out to create a different type of partnership that isn’t simply a passive ownership stake, but real involvement across marketing and business development from the whole Thirty Five Ventures team.”
New stadium sponsor Subaru also provided community initiatives as part of their agreement that was announced prior to the scheduled home opener in March, which was later postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Philadelphia Union return to the field in July as part of the MLS is Back tournament in Orlando, where they will face Nashville SC, Inter Miami and New York City FC.
Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union.