Investor Group In Talks To Acquire Percentage Of MLS Crew

Former MLS player Paul Caligiuri, who is part of a "group of investors that was looking to bring an expansion MLS team to Las Vegas," said that the group now is looking to acquire a percentage" of the Crew, according to Tripp Mickle of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Caligiuri said that the group, which is headed by Las Vegas Sports & Entertainment Group (LVSEG) President Mark Noorzai, "would acquire a portion of the Crew" from Hunt Sports Group (HSG) and "would not move the team." Caligiuri: "It’s pretty close to being in the final stages." HSG President John Wagner "confirmed that the group has approached the team about a minority investment, but said no agreement has been reached and discussions are ongoing" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/29 issue). Caligiuri in an e-mail said that the SBJ story "was not accurate." Caligiuri: "Not much to say. I believe I was misunderstood and (the information) was wrongly stated." Crew GM Mark McCullers yesterday said of the report, "This is something that is ongoing. For us, it's business as usual. This is not going to be a distraction. If it happens, great. It shows the value in the Columbus Crew and what we have been building." Sources indicated that the potential investor group "might have designs on using the ownership stake as leverage in its bid for expansion or to lure league-produced events such as the MLS All-Star Game or high-profile international exhibitions to Las Vegas." An MLS official said that the league "would not comment because MLS does not consider the Crew's dealings to be 'a league issue at the moment'" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 9/30).