Oneonta, NY - The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum today announced the 2008 Builders Ballot. Included on the 16-person ballot is D.C. United's President and CEO Kevin Payne, as well as the club's first-ever head coach, Bruce Arena. Payne has been with D.C. United for most of the club's history and in 1994 created the first ownership group for United. Under Payne's guidance, the team was a charter member of Major League Soccer in 1996, and earned three of the League's first four MLS Cups.
"It's a great honor to be on the ballot for the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame," said Payne. " To share this honor with my good friend Bruce Arena is especially rewarding."
Payne has an impressive history as a leader in American soccer. After careers as an award-winning radio journalist in New York City and as a marketing and special events executive in Vail, CO, Kevin Payne became the National Administrator of the United States Soccer Federation in 1989. 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 U.S. National Team leading up to the 1994 World Cup. </p>
With Payne at the club's helm, D.C. United has become the most decorated team in American professional soccer history, with nine major domestic and international championships. Payne currently serves as a board member and Chairman of the Technical Committee for the U.S. Soccer Federation, is the Vice Chairman of the U. S. Soccer Foundation and is a founding board member of the Greater Washington Sports Alliance.
Bruce Arena was also named a Builder candidate, and made his mark in D.C. United early years. Arena brought the Black-and-Red two MLS Cup championships, and won "The Double" in the team's inaugural season with its U.S. Open Cup victory. Arena's success led to his selection as the 1997 MLS Coach of the Year. In his last season with United, he led the team to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup and InterAmerican Cup titles. He later went on to coach the U.S. Men's National squad and was most recently head coach of the New York Red Bulls.</p>
The Builders Ballot will be submitted to all Hall of Famers and a select group of current soccer administrators for their vote. The builder candidate who receives the most votes, as long as the total represents at least 50% of the ballots cast, will be elected to the Hall of Fame.
