The Houston Dynamo announced that the Houston Rockets guard James Harden bought a minority stake in the investment group that controls the Dynamo, BBVA Stadium, and the NWSL’s Houston Dash.
“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 statement on Dynamo’s website.
"This is my city and I'm here to stay."
James Harden is now a minority owner of MLS's Houston Dynamo and NWSL's Houston Dash
(via @HoustonDynamo)https://t.co/3Z3Qd2LSOl
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) July 18, 2019
“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. Soccer in general, and especially MLS, have 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.”
Great day in the H@JHarden13 joins the #ForeverOrange family🤘
— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) July 18, 2019
The overall valuation of the Houston Dynamo, BBVA Stadium, and Houston Dash is minimum $475 million, and it believed that James Harden purchased a 5% stake.
The former MVP of the NBA and seven-time All-Star signed a guaranteed $228 million deal with the Houston Rockets in 2017. He now became a part of an ownership group that includes majority owner Gabriel Brener, White Deer Energy managing partner Ben Guill, Portland, Oregon-based investor Jake Silverstein, and boxing legend and promoter Oscar De La Hoya.
Gabriel Brener began investing in the Dynamo in 2008, and seven years later, he acquired controlling interest from AEG, the previous owners. He was excited to welcome Harden to the Dynamo.
“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.”
Oscar De La Hoya also had only kind words for the Beard.
“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.”
