Every MLS team with Jewish owners

Including majority and minority stakeholders

Since its debut in 1996, Major League Soccer (MLS) has been steadily rising. It remains behind the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL in terms of revenue. And like the other leagues, Jewish ownership has shaped it’s destiny.

The MLS has been steered by a Jewish commissioner Don Garber since 1999—nearly its entire existence. Who owns the MLS? Get this—at least 9 of the 30 teams (30%!) have Jewish majority owners.

Keep in mind that it's not easy to verify the ethnic or religious identity of league owners, especially for smaller, less prominent leagues. But this is what my research could confirm.

While researching, I came across this wild nugget. The FC Cincinnati owner Carl Lindner III is not Jewish. His deceased father, Carl Lindner Jr., was the largest non-Jewish buyer of Israeli bonds. He was also one of the largest non-Jewish donors to Jewish organizations in the United States.

Jewish MLS owners

Here are the MLS teams controlled by Jewish majority owners

• Arthur Blank¹ (Atlanta United FC)

• David Tepper (Charlotte FC)

• Jason Levien and Steven Kaplan² (D.C. United)

• Ted Segal (Houston Dynamo FC)

• Bennet Rosenthal³ (Los Angeles FC)

• Robert Kraft (New England Revolution)

• Wilf family (Orlando City FS)

• John Fisher and Lewis Wolff (San Jose Earthquakes)

• Adrian Hanauer⁴ (Seattle Sounders FC)

Other MLS teams with Jewish minority investors

• Anthony Ressler⁵ (Inter Miami FC)

• Justin Ishbia (Nashville SC)

• Lester Crown⁶ (New York City FC)

• Richard Leibovitch⁷ (Philadelphia Union)

• David Blitzer⁸ (Real Salt Lake)

• Larry Tenenbaum⁹ (Toronto FC)

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This article is part of a series on Jewish leaders in America. Executive branch, Congress, state and local government, university presidents, NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, and WNBA.

1. Arthur Blank sold 10% of Atlanta United FC in 2019. Sources specify he is the controlling owner, but don’t specify the precise percentage.

2. Jason Levien and Steven Kaplan own 60% of the D.C. United. A minority co-owner is Dan Gilbert. It’s unclear whether he is Jewish. He is not related to the Jewish owner Dan Gilbert of Cleveland Cavaliers.

3. Bennet Rosenthal is listed as the “Lead Managing Owner” of Los Angeles FC. His foundation supports Jewish and Israeli causes. Jewish minority co-owners include Peter Guber, and Brandon Schneider. Others such as Lon Rosen and Mark Shapiro are likely Jewish. Some of the linked sources show their Jewish heritage.

4. Majority owner Adrian Hanauer is Jewish. Several minority owners are Jewish including Jay Stein and Adam Selipsky.

5. Inter Miami FC received a $150 million preferred equity investment in 2021 from Ares Management, led by Jewish co-founder and chairman Anthony Ressler. The deal gives Ares profit rights but no decision-making power.

6. Lester Crown owns 13% of the Yankee Global Enterprises, which owns 10% of New York City FC.

7. Richard Leibovitch owns a undisclosed minority stake in Philadelphia Union. He is likely Jewish. It’s unclear whether majority owner Jay Sugarman of Philadelphia Union is Jewish or not.

8. David Blitzer is minority owner of Real Salt Lake. He sold off his majority ownership .

9. Larry Tenenbaum owns 20% of Toronto FC. He owns 80% of Kilmer Sports, which in turn owns 25% of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment — the company that owns Toronto FC.