Kevin Payne (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Kevin J. Payne is a U.S. soccer executive. He is currently President
and Chief Executive Officer
of D.C. United
, Chairman of the Technical Committee and board member for the U.S. Soccer Federation, Vice Chairman of the U.S. Soccer Foundation
and founding board member of the Greater Washington Sports Alliance
.
in 1989. In the fall of 1990, he was named Deputy Executive Director and Director of Marketing for the Federation. In 1991, he moved to New York and became the Executive Vice President and, ultimately, the President of Soccer USA Partners, which owned all marketing, broadcast and event promotion rights to the United States men's national soccer team
leading up to the 1994 FIFA World Cup
.
Payne left the Federation in 1991 to become Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Soccer USA Partners (SUSAP/API Soccer), and was named its President in early 1994. This sports marketing agency staged more than 60 U.S. national team matches, including the 1992 and 1993 U.S. Cups, and developed more than $35 million in sponsorships for U.S. Soccer and U.S. Youth Soccer.
and a charter group of investors on the creation of Major League Soccer
(MLS). Payne put together the original investment group for D.C. United, which included George Soros
, Paul Tierney and The Sponsorship Group/API and served as the President and General Manager of the team from its inception. Under his guidance, D.C. United has been the most successful team in MLS, winning six major championships.
In 2001, Payne joined Anschutz Entertainment Group
(AEG) as Sr. Vice President and Managing Director of AEG Soccer, which, during his tenure, oversaw six MLS teams, including the Los Angeles Galaxy
, Colorado Rapids
, Chicago Fire, D.C. United, MetroStars
and San Jose Earthquakes
. Payne also oversaw all other AEG soccer activities until his decision to return to D.C. United in 2004 as President and CEO.
Payne is a member of the Board of Governors of MLS, and sits on the league Marketing and Competition committees.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
, Chairman of the Technical Committee and board member for the U.S. Soccer Federation, Vice Chairman of the U.S. Soccer Foundation
U.S. Soccer Foundation
The U.S. Soccer Foundation, established in 1994, serves as the major charitable arm of soccer in the United States. The U.S. Soccer Foundation is committed to improving the health and well-being of children in urban economically disadvantaged areas using soccer as a vehicle for social change.*...
and founding board member of the Greater Washington Sports Alliance
Greater Washington Sports Alliance
The Greater Washington Sports Alliance is a non-profit organization, founded in 2003 under the Greater Washington Board of Trade. Currently, an independent entity, its board is headed by Chairman Fernando Murias, Managing Partner of PriceWaterhouseCoopers. It is the regional sports commission...
.
Early career
Payne played soccer growing up, in college and at the amateur/semipro level. After careers as an award-winning radio journalist in New York City and as a senior resort marketing and special events executive in Vail, CO, Payne became the National Administrator of the United States Soccer FederationUnited States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
in 1989. In the fall of 1990, he was named Deputy Executive Director and Director of Marketing for the Federation. In 1991, he moved to New York and became the Executive Vice President and, ultimately, the President of Soccer USA Partners, which owned all marketing, broadcast and event promotion rights to the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
leading up to the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
.
Payne left the Federation in 1991 to become Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Soccer USA Partners (SUSAP/API Soccer), and was named its President in early 1994. This sports marketing agency staged more than 60 U.S. national team matches, including the 1992 and 1993 U.S. Cups, and developed more than $35 million in sponsorships for U.S. Soccer and U.S. Youth Soccer.
Major League Soccer
In the fall of 1994, Payne, as President of SUSAP, began to work with Alan RothenbergAlan Rothenberg
Alan I. Rothenberg is a graduate of the University of Michigan's law school, and an influential administrative figure in the history of North American soccer who is credited with greatly contributing to the growth of the game in the United States, and the namesake of the Alan I...
and a charter group of investors on the creation of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS). Payne put together the original investment group for D.C. United, which included George Soros
George Soros
George Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
, Paul Tierney and The Sponsorship Group/API and served as the President and General Manager of the team from its inception. Under his guidance, D.C. United has been the most successful team in MLS, winning six major championships.
In 2001, Payne joined Anschutz Entertainment Group
Anschutz Entertainment Group
The Anschutz Entertainment Group is a sporting and music entertainment presenter and a subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation. It is the world's largest owner of sports teams and sports events, the owner of the world’s most profitable sports and entertainment venues, and under AEG Live the world's...
(AEG) as Sr. Vice President and Managing Director of AEG Soccer, which, during his tenure, oversaw six MLS teams, including the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
, Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
, Chicago Fire, D.C. United, MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
and San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
. Payne also oversaw all other AEG soccer activities until his decision to return to D.C. United in 2004 as President and CEO.
Payne is a member of the Board of Governors of MLS, and sits on the league Marketing and Competition committees.