Latest news with #HBKøge
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Principal Owners of Kansas City Current Acquire Danish Football Club HB Køge Women
Angie and Chris Long create an international multi-club model with their newest investment in global women's football KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ballard Capital, an investment company controlled and owned by Angie and Chris Long, has signed an agreement to purchase HB Køge Women, a premier women's football club in Denmark. HB Køge plays in the Kvindeliga, which is the highest division of Danish women's football and has a storied history as a top club in Denmark prioritizing investment in women's football. Purchasing HB Køge Women represents another historic investment by the Longs as the Longs had to first work collaboratively with the seller to separate the men's and women's teams so the Longs could solely purchase the women's team. This deal also represents one of the most significant women's sports transactions in Denmark history. Importantly, this acquisition is a continuation of Angie and Chris Long's unwavering commitment to investing in women's soccer at the highest level while raising the bar for players, supporters, and communities both nationally and internationally. HB Køge Women will begin the next chapter focused on returning to play at the highest level in Europe, boosted further by a significant investment by the Longs into building the preeminent women's youth football academy in Scandinavia. "We are thrilled to have this opportunity to partner with HB Køge Women, the supporters, and, of course, the broader community," said co-owners Angie and Chris Long. "We are incredibly proud of everything the Kansas City Current has built, and we look forward to using that blueprint and working closely with key partners in Denmark to further elevate HB Køge Women and the region. Our goal is to win Danish League championships while competing successfully at the highest levels within the global football ecosystem." Located approximately 30 minutes south of Copenhagen in Køge, HB Køge plays in the Kvindeliga, the highest level of women's football in Denmark organized by the Danish Football Association (DBU). HB Køge was founded through the merger of historic clubs Køge Boldklub and Herfølge Boldklub in 2009. HB Køge won the Kvindeliga, the highest division of women's football in Denmark, three straight seasons in 2021, 2022, and 2023. HB Køge also competed in the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2021, 2022, and 2023. "We are incredibly appreciative to George Altirs and his team at Capelli Sport for their prior stewardship of the club, their significant investment, and the opportunity we now have to lead this premier women's club into the future," said Angie and Chris Long. "We look forward to continuing the close partnership with Capelli Sport as the preferred kit and athleticwear partner of HB Køge Women." About the Kansas City CurrentFounded in December 2020, the Kansas City Current is led by the ownership group of Angie Long, Chris Long, Brittany Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes. The team competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The Kansas City Current plays its home matches at CPKC Stadium, the first stadium purpose-built for a professional women's sports team. Named The Most Ambitious NWSL Club for two consecutive seasons by ESPN, the Current is proud of its many precedent-setting accomplishments. To receive updates on the Current visit About HB Køge WomenHB Køge Women was founded in 2009 through the merger of historic clubs Køge Boldklub and Herfølge Boldklub. Located approximately 30 minutes south of Copenhagen in Køge, the club plays in the Kvindeliga, the highest level of women's football in Denmark organized by the Danish Football Association (DBU). HB Køge won the Kvindeliga and competed in the UEFA Women's Champions League three straight seasons in 2021, 2022, and 2023. About Ballard CapitalBallard Capital is an investment company owned by Angie and Chris Long with a primary focus on sports and entertainment. View original content: SOURCE Kansas City Current
New York Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
KC Current owners Angie and Chris Long expand to multi-club model, purchasing Danish club HB Koge
Kansas City Current owners Angie and Chris Long are expanding their global soccer footprint, acquiring HB Køge Women, a top-flight Danish women's soccer club competing in the country's highest division. The Longs made the purchase through their investment firm, Ballard Capital. The Longs worked with the seller, George Altirs, and his team at Capelli Sport to separate the women's team from the men's side, allowing them to buy only the women's club. Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang did the same with French women's club OL Lyonnes in 2023, as did Chelsea when it sold its women's team to sister company BlueCo earlier this year. Advertisement The Longs did not set out to build a multi-club organization when they invested in Kansas City Current, but those plans have changed. 'We were looking for a place where we can integrate with the community and build this together,' Angie Long told The Athletic. 'It is something that we've loved about what we've done in Kansas City, and finding a location where we felt we could attract and develop talent was really important. Denmark, and Køge especially, we think really offer that opportunity.' Founded in 2009 through the merger of KøgeBøldklub and Herfølge Bøldklub to become HB Køge Pigefodbold, the club won the championships three straight seasons from 2021 to 2023. The club also competed in the UEFA Women's Champions League during that time. HB Køge plays its home matches at the Køge Stadium, which it shares with the men's side. The stadium is currently under renovation, paid for by the previous owners. With the investment from the Longs, the club is planning to build a women's youth soccer academy in Scandinavia. The couple is also planning to make a significant investment in the business side to build franchise value over time. 'We think there are so many opportunities to elevate the community and the team to continue to compete at a really high level on the football side,' Chris Long said. The amount of the investment was not disclosed, but a Current spokesperson told The Athletic the deal represents one of the most significant women's sports transactions in Denmark history. The Longs became interested in owning a women's soccer team after the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. A little over a year later, they teamed up with former soccer player Brittany Mahomes and her husband, NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes, to make their vision come true. The group announced they had purchased the Utah Royals FC from Dell Loy Hansen and moved the NWSL club back to Kansas City. The team began play in the 2021 season and rebranded as the Kansas City Current in 2022. The following year, the Longs funded the construction of a $120 million venue, CPKC Stadium, which opened in 2024. The Current is the most financially successful team in the league with $36.3 million in revenue, according to Sportico's latest valuations. Last month, the Longs broke ground on a $1 billion mixed-use development on land adjacent to the stadium that will include about 2 million square feet of retail, office and residential space. In addition to their recent investment in Denmark, the Longs are actively looking to expand their presence in women's soccer through the acquisition of additional clubs. 'We've been very active looking across geographies already for the better part of 15-18 months to find incredible soccer and the ability to impact the community and drive beyond business improvement,' Chris Long said. 'But it's important to us that we do it right,' Angie Long added. 'We do it with excellence. And I think this offers an opportunity to learn how to first become a multi-club model, and then to really build on it.' (Top photo of Angie and Chris Long: HB Koge)
