DC United General Partner Erick Thohir yesterday said that he is "seeking additional partners but has no plans to sell his majority stake in the MLS organization," according to Steven Goff of the WASHINGTON POST. Thohir said, "If we don't find anyone who is really good for our team, we won't bring one in. We're looking for someone who brings value." Thohir denied a N.Y. Times story that, citing anonymous sources, said he and Managing General Partner Jason Levien are "quietly weighing a sale of the franchise." Additionally, multiple MLS execs said that they "had no knowledge of Thohir selling the team." United has "received inquiries from a Chinese group about buying a minority stake in the team." Meanwhile, United's investors said that, contrary to the Times story, they have "not reached out" to Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chair Ted Leonsis or to Redskins Owner Dan Snyder (WASHINGTON POST, 7/31). In N.Y., de la Merced & Sorkin in the original report note the potential sale "arose from efforts" by United's majority owners to sell a 35% stake once held by former United General Partner Will Chang. Chang "sold that stake to the team last fall." United's owners had "delayed that sale process while they worked on preparations for the team's new stadium, which broke ground in February." A sale of the team would "probably be the most expensive involving a professional soccer team." Including the new stadium and the team's debt, the franchise's enterprise value "could approach" $500M. But sources said that United's owners "may also choose not to pursue a transaction." Sources added that Thohir has "retained the Raine Group." Raine has "begun distributing materials it prepared on the club's financials for potential buyers" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/31).
