KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Lamar Hunt representing the Hunt family announced today that the organization has completed the sale of the family's interest in the Kansas City Wizards and their related interest in Soccer United Marketing (SUM) to a six person group of Kansas City area residents led by Cerner Corporation executives Neal Patterson and Cliff Illig.
The purchasing group also includes Pat Curran, David French, Greg Maday and Robb Heineman. Biographical information on all six investors is attached.
The acquiring entity is OnGoal LLC. The purchase documents were signed yesterday and the new ownership group will take over operation of the Wizards on September 1. All current Wizards employees will continue with the organization.
The Hunts have been an Investor-Operator in Major League Soccer since the league began in 1996, and have operated the Wizards for 10 plus seasons. The organization has brought several significant championships to Kansas City, including
The team also was the runner up in the 2004 MLS Cup where they were edged by DC United 3-2 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
During the 10 plus years the team has compiled a 138-140-55 regular season record, an 11-13-3 playoff record and qualified for the MLS playoffs seven times. They are currently fighting for a position in the 2006 playoffs with only 6 games left in the tight Eastern Conference race.
Lamar Hunt, who has been involved in the professional sports scene in Kansas City for 44 years, concluded the announcement with these remarks:
"We are especially pleased to have been able to consummate this transaction with the end result that the Wizards will remain in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. We had numerous inquiries from potential investors who wanted to move the team to other communities. Fortunately, the leadership of OnGoal have a passion for the Heart of America and I am convinced that they will achieve the much-needed Soccer-Specific-Stadium for the area and contribute to the long-range success of MLS.
"We are delighted that Cliff and Neal and the other members of OnGoal have been added to the ownership group of MLS. They bring the total different ownership groups to nine for the 13 MLS teams. The addition of committed, financially able partners further strengthens the league. The Hunts have continuing financial involvement in MLS in Columbus and Dallas, and we welcome the addition of the new MLS partners in Kansas City.
"I want to mention the dedication of Hunt Sports Group's President John Wagner, and my son Clark, who worked very hard on this sale. Beginning with our announcement of the intention to sell in December 2004, it took us almost two years, but their efforts made it happen.
"We want to thank the many employees both on and off the field who have been dedicated disciples for the organization. General Manager Curt Johnson has labored long and hard and helped craft competitive teams on the field. Our former coach Bob Gansler won three significant championships for the organization and I would be remiss if I did not mention four employees who have been here from "Day One" - Evelyn Bray, Dan Faggard, Martie Harter and Chet North.
"The final story of the "success" of Major League Soccer has yet to be written. In my opinion it is well on the way and certain to come. The recent completion by MLS of five new long-term TV contracts with ABC, ESPN, Univision, Fox Soccer Channel and HDNet are significant in that they will bring broad increased exposure and important revenue to the league.
"Lastly, the development of Soccer-Specific-Stadiums and the accompanying revenue streams have also brightened the future of the league. Two more new stadiums in Denver and Toronto will open in 2007, and the New York Red Bulls will break ground next month following the lead of Real Salt Lake which broke ground several weeks ago. These additions mean that nine of the 13 MLS teams will be in Soccer-Specific-Stadiums by 2008 - 2009."
Biographical information on the six investors in OnGoal LLC, the acquiring entity of the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer
OnGoal, LLC is comprised of six principals: Neal Patterson, Cliff Illig, Pat Curran, David French, Robb Heineman, and Greg Maday.
Neal Patterson
Neal L. Patterson is chairman of the board, chief executive officer and co-founder of Cerner Corporation. His entrepreneurial journey began in late 1979, when he and two colleagues, Cliff Illig and Paul Gorup, held a series of discussions around a Loose Park picnic bench that led to the conceptualization of Cerner Corporation. Today, Cerner is the leading U.S. supplier of healthcare information technology with almost $1.5 billion in annual revenue and more than 4500 Kansas City-based associates.
In 2006, Cerner has been recognized by Business 2.0 as one of the 100 fastest growing technology companies, ranked sixth in the Kansas City Star's Star 50 and received the Kansas City Future of Business Award. In addition, Cerner ranked as one of Computerworld's 100 Best Places to Work in IT and placed in Training Magazine's Top 100 in recognition of its progressive practices in human resource development.
Beyond his work at Cerner, Patterson serves as chairman of the board of directors for the 107-year-old American Royal. He is active in local entrepreneurial organizations such as the Entrepreneur's Exchange. Finally, Patterson is co-founder and serves on the executive board of the First Hand Foundation, a local non-profit organization focused on providing financial assistance to children with critical healthcare needs. Over the last decade, First Hand has invested millions into the health of more than 20,000 children.
Patterson earned his bachelor's degree in finance and his master's degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University in 1971 and 1972, respectively.
Cliff Illig
Clifford W. Illig, vice chairman of the board and a co-founder of Cerner. Over the last quarter century, Illig has played a number of important senior executive roles within Cerner, including president and chief operating officer. In his current position, Illig focuses on vital growth areas for the company ranging from electronic community health initiatives such as the Kansas City employer-led Healthe Mid-America to expansion strategies in key non-US markets such as the United Kingdom.
In recent years, several organizations have recognized Illig's spirit of entrepreneurship, awarding him honors such as UMKC's Entrepreneur of the Year award and Ernst & Young Inc. magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year award. Illig believes firmly in the importance of entrepreneurship to Kansas City's future and invests his time in a number of non-profit organizations that are working to advance it, serving on the board of directors of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and as an angel investor and entrepreneurial mentor.
Illig also is active in the Boy Scouts of America, receiving their Distinguished Citizen Award in 2003 and currently serving as president of the Heart of America Council. In addition, Illig and his wife Bonne have worked extensively with the Midwest Ear Institute and with many other local charities and philanthropic causes including the Kansas City Ballet, Harvesters, Young Matrons, Catholic Charities, the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, Children's Mercy Hospital, Rockhurst High School and the University of Kansas.
Illig is a Kansas City native. He attended Shawnee Mission East High School and was a 1972 graduate of the University of Kansas School of Business.
Pat Curran
Pat Curran has been an active and successful private equity investor since 1979 and was a founder and Principal of C3 Holdings. Prior to this, he served as CEO of Cook Composites & Polymers, a $1 billion chemicals business that he helped create through a joint venture between Cook Paint and Total Chimie of France. He spent nearly 20 years at Cook Paint, working his way up to CEO, and performed one of the first leveraged buyouts on this company in 1979. He has served on the board of numerous highly successful Midwestern companies, including Applebee's International, Gold Banc, Lockton Companies, Unitog, Sealright, JPS Packaging, and American Safety Razor. He has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University and a BA in Economics from Stanford University.
David French
David French is a founder and principal of Rock Island Capital, LLC, a private equity fund, where he serves as an Operating Advisor. Formerly a Principal at Kessinger Hunter & Co. and a Certified Public Accountant with Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KPMG), Mr. French also served as President and CEO of Star Medical, LLC, a provider of respiratory mediation and diabetic supplies. Mr. French has a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, and is an Advisory Director for Research Medical Center, Enterprise Bank, and Hillcrest Bank.
Robb Heineman
Robb Heineman is a founder and principal of Rock Island Capital, LLC, and has extensive experience in other private equity and banking activities. Mr. Heineman's family also owns the Sioux Falls SkyForce of the NBA Development League (formerly the CBA). Mr. Heineman holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Heineman serves on the Board of Directors of the Sioux Falls SkyForce, Heineman Investments, LLC, Sioux Agency Services, Inc., and the Sky's the Limit Youth Foundation.
Greg Maday
Greg Maday is a founder and principal of Rock Island Capital, LLC, where he serves as an Operating Advisor. Mr. Maday is also the Chairman and CEO of Spec CON, LLC and the former owner and CEO of Conspec Marketing and Manufacturing Company, a manufacturer of concrete-related building materials. Mr. Maday holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration - Finance from the University of Missouri. Mr. Maday is the vice-chairman of the America Royal, and also serves on the United Community Services of Johnson County "Navigating the Future: Setting the Course" panel. Mr. Maday serves on the Board of Directors of UMB Bank, OT Overtime, LLC, Community Blood Center, Front Porch Alliance, Kansas City Public Television, and numerous other not-for-profit boards.
