James Harden joins Houston Dynamo and Dash ownership group

Thursday, July 18, 2019

James Harden now an owner of Houston Dynamo and Dash

The Houston Rockets star is adding soccer club investor to his resume, says ABC13's David Nuno.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- James Harden's championship aspirations are now two-fold between the court and the pitch.

The Houston Rockets star has bought in to the ownership group that controls the Houston Dynamo of the MLS and the Houston Dash of the NWSL.

The 29-year-old former NBA MVP joins a group that includes boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya and majority owner Gabriel Brener. He is the fifth overall member of the ownership group.

According to the team, the average MLS club value has increased by 650% over the last 10 years.

"Houston is my home now, and I saw this as a way to invest in my city and expand my business interests at the same time. Soccer in general, and especially MLS, have exploded in this country throughout my lifetime. I've been a fan of the game for several years, and I know that Houston has a massive soccer fanbase, so it was an easy decision for me when this opportunity arose," Harden said in an announcement by the Dynamo.

"We are thrilled to welcome James into our club. He's an icon in the Houston community, and not only is he a great basketball player, he has an extremely smart and savvy mind for business," Brener said, who leads the ownership group.

Harden gave a peek of his aspirations on the pitch with a series of Adidas branded social media postings in Europe. He visited with Arsenal FC of the Premier League in London.

That visit drew a noticeable quote-tweet from the Dynamo.

Harden also gives a big name in Houston's pitch to host World Cup matches in 2026.

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