Boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya vowed to fight for a new stadium for Houston Dynamo when he and the Brener International Group were announced as equity partners with owner Anschutz Entertainment Group at a rally Friday afternoon in Jones Plaza in Houston.
"If I have to put on these gloves, we will fight for a brand-new stadium," the 10-time world champion said to several hundred fans who gathered for the rally. "I can't wait to be at home games and beat the drums along with El Batallón and the Texian Army."
De La Hoya, an Olympic gold medalist in 1992, also praised Dynamo's fan base for being such a crucial part of the team's success.
"Fans, to me, always come first, and here in Houston, the Dynamo have a tremendous fan base," De La Hoya said. "The fans have put the Dynamo on the map, and we deserve a brand-new stadium."
Tim Leiweke, CEO of AEG, which retains operating control of the team, was on hand to introduce De La Hoya, and he praised the club and its fans while reiterating the need for a new stadium.
"We could not be more proud of the whole team and the fact that you, the fans, have made this the best franchise in MLS," Leiweke said. "I am meeting with the mayor today, and I'm bringing my heavy hitter. With a new soccer stadium, this is going to be the crown jewel of MLS."
Clive Fleissig represented the Brener International Group, while seven Dynamo players, including captain Wade Barrett and head coach Dominic Kinnear, were also in attendance. Oliver Luck, Dynamo president and general manager, termed the new partnership a "tremendous bit of news."
To close the ceremony, Barrett presented De La Hoya with a cowboy hat, and the boxing champion began throwing autographed boxing gloves into the crowd. The players threw autographed soccer balls to the fans.
Dynamo will take on D.C. United, Toronto FC and Chivas USA at the Texas Pro Soccer Challenge near San Antonio next week before beginning competitive matches with the CONCACAF Champions' Cup quarterfinals against Guatemala's CSD Municipal, March 12 in Guatemala City and March 19 at Robertson Stadium.
