Adrian Hanauer

Last updated
Adrian Hanauer
Adrian Hanauer at Sounders Victory Rally, 2016.jpg
Hanauer in 2016
Born (1966-02-07) February 7, 1966 (age 58)
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater University of Washington
OccupationBusinessman
EmployerMuseum Quality Framing
Known for Seattle Sounders FC ownership
Relatives Nick Hanauer (brother)

Adrian Hanauer (born February 7, 1966) is an American businessman and majority owner of Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. He is also one of the minority owners of the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League and the governor of Seattle Reign FC, a National Women's Soccer League team that the Sounders co-own with The Carlyle Group. [1]

Contents

Business history

Hanauer's family owned the Pacific Coast Feather Company, a down pillow, feather bed, and high-end bedding products manufacturer that was founded in 1884 in Germany, and is now headquartered in Seattle. [2] While Hanauer never held an executive position within the company, he began working at the company at 13.

Hanauer founded Museum Quality Framing, which is a chain of custom frame stores in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, in 1988. [3] Hanauer used to own a chain of pizza stores called Mad Pizza. [4] As an early investor in Amazon and aQuantive, an online based advertising company, Hanauer turned a substantial profit when the latter company went public in 2000 and again when Microsoft purchased the company in 2007. [2] [5]

He became the managing partner for the USL Seattle Sounders in 2002 and began reducing the financial losses the team was taking, $1 million per year for the five years proceeding Hanauer's taking over the team,[ citation needed ] and reduced the losses to $350,000 per year. [4] The team also attained success on the field under Hanauer's leadership, going 23-4-1 in his first season, the second best record in USL history, and made it to the league championship game three times, winning it twice. [2] Hanauer also began working on getting a Major League Soccer team in Seattle. The league passed over Seattle in 2004, choosing instead to expand to better prepared Salt Lake City. Hanauer invested $250,000 for a 15 percent stake in an English soccer team Cambridge United FC in May 2007.

Following the MLS All Star game in July 2007, Hanauer was introduced to Hollywood executive, director, and film producer Joe Roth by MLS commissioner Don Garber. The two men hit it off and over the next few weeks, Roth made several visits to Seattle to take in a few Sounders games and get to know Hanauer better. By November, the two had brought in Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and comedian Drew Carey as investors and MLS had announced Seattle as the next expansion team. [2]

In 2005, Hanauer founded business incubator and venture capital company Curious Office Partners. The company invests in small internet startup companies and offers them office space in Pioneer Square and invests between US$10,000 and $250,000 in the startups. [6] In 2018, he and his brother sold the Pacific Coast Feather Company. [7]

Hanauer joined the ownership group of the Seattle Kraken, an expansion franchise in the National Hockey League, in 2018. [8] He and his mother Lenore also acquired a minority stake in Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League the following year. [9] The stake was later acquired by OL Groupe in December 2019. [10]

Personal life

Hanauer's interest in soccer began at the age of 3, he saw his first North American Soccer League Sounders game at the age of 8, and he was one of only two freshmen to make the soccer team for Mercer Island High School. While Hanauer did not make the team as a sophomore, he continued to play soccer, first on an intramural team while attending University of Washington and now on two teams in the Greater Seattle Soccer League. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL First Division</span> Former soccer league

The USL First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States and Canada from 2005 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starfire Sports</span> Stadium and sports facility in Tukwila, Washington, U.S.

Starfire Sports is a multi-purpose stadium and sporting facility in Tukwila, Washington, United States. It is located on the banks of the Green River, just south of Seattle. The stadium is operated by the nonprofit corporation Starfire Sports and is home to several soccer and rugby teams. At the time of its opening, CEO Chris Slatt claimed it was "the largest synthetic-turf soccer complex in the U.S."

The Seattle metropolitan area in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States is home to several professional and amateur sports teams. They include seven teams in major leagues, several in minor leagues, and collegiate programs for two National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I universities and one NCAA Division II university.

The 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 94th edition of the USSF's annual national soccer championship, running from June through early October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Sounders FC</span> American professional soccer team

Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional men's soccer club based in Seattle, Washington, United States. The Sounders compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. The club was established on November 13, 2007, and began play in 2009 as an MLS expansion team. The Sounders are a phoenix club, replacing the second-division franchise that played in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL), A-League, and USL First Division (USL-1) from 1994 to 2008, and carrying the same name as the original Sounders franchise that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1974 to 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)</span> Former American soccer team

The Seattle Sounders were an American professional soccer team that was founded in 1994 and played in several second-division leagues, beginning with the American Professional Soccer League. They played in the A-League, later renamed the USL First Division, from 1997 to 2008. The team was named for the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League (NASL), which folded in 1983. The Sounders folded after the 2008 season as part of a transition to a new Major League Soccer (MLS) team named Seattle Sounders FC that debuted in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expansion of Major League Soccer</span>

Major League Soccer has expanded several times since the league began play in 1996. Major League Soccer was established as the top level of professional soccer in the United States in 1993 with 10 teams and began play in 1996. It has expanded several times since 1998 into new markets across the United States and, since 2006, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Hanauer</span> American entrepreneur and venture capitalist

Nicolas Joseph Hanauer is an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Seattle Sounders FC season</span> Seattle Sounders FC 2009 soccer season

The 2009 season was Seattle Sounders FC's first in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of American soccer. It was the 29th season played by a professional team bearing the Sounders name, which was chosen for the MLS expansion team by a fan vote. An MLS franchise was awarded to a group from Seattle in 2007, including Adrian Hanauer, the owner of the second-division incarnation of the Sounders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 U.S. Open Cup final</span> 2009 final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

The 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on September 2, 2009, at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The match determined the winner of the 2009 U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation. This was the 96th edition of the oldest competition in United States soccer. The match was won by Seattle Sounders FC, who defeated D.C. United 2–1. Clyde Simms scored D.C. United's only goal. Fredy Montero and Roger Levesque scored Seattle's two goals as the club became the second expansion team in Major League Soccer (MLS) history to win the tournament in their inaugural season.

Seattle has had professional soccer clubs for over four decades who have played in various leagues since the 1970s. These include three incarnations of the Seattle Sounders FC, playing in the North American Soccer League, United Soccer League, and Major League Soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Meredith</span> American professional soccer player (born 1989)

Bryan Meredith is an American former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper, and current coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordell Cato</span> Trinidadian footballer

Cordell Cato is a Trinidadian footballer who last played for Oklahoma City Energy FC in the USL Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Reign FC</span> Womens soccer team based in Seattle, Washington

Seattle Reign FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2012, it was one of eight inaugural members of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and continues to play in the league. Since June 2024, the Reign are owned by private equity firm The Carlyle Group and the Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tacoma Defiance</span> American soccer team based in Tacoma, Washington

Tacoma Defiance, formerly Seattle Sounders FC 2, is an American professional soccer team based in Puget Sound region in Tukwila, Washington, U.S. that competes in the MLS Next Pro, the third tier of the United States soccer league system, as the reserve team of Seattle Sounders FC. Formerly, 20 percent of the club was fan-owned through the non-profit Sounders Community Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spencer Richey</span> American professional soccer player (born 1992)

Spencer McNair Richey is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.

Kevin M. Nagle is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist who was the co-founder and chief executive officer of EnvisionRx, a health care and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company, from October 2001 to March 2014. He is the chairman and CEO of Sacramento Republic FC, a USL Championship club seeking to join Major League Soccer (MLS), and an investor in the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). On June 22, 2023 he acquired ownership of English football club Huddersfield Town A.F.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nashville SC</span> American soccer club

Nashville Soccer Club is an American men’s professional soccer club based in Nashville, Tennessee. The team began play in Major League Soccer in 2020 as a continuation of the USL club of the same name and plays its home matches at Geodis Park. It is principally owned by John Ingram, owner of Ingram Industries, along with investors and partial owners the Turner family of Dollar General Stores.

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Jayda (2024-06-16). "Sounders' purchase of Reign FC finalized, ushering in new era of Seattle soccer". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Meisner, Jeff. "The Gambler". Seattle Magazine. Retrieved 2011-08-21.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. ↑ Nancy J. Kim (1999-11-19). "Seeking frame and fortune". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
  4. 1 2 Massey, Matt (September 28, 2007). "Hanauer lays bet on Seattle soccer". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  5. ↑ Mesiner, Jeff (July 8, 2007). "Private pro soccer talks stall". Puget Sound Business Journal . Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  6. ↑ John Cook (2005-09-28). "Startups—the micro approach". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
  7. ↑ Stewart, Ashley (March 30, 2018). "Down and out: Why Nick and Adrian Hanauer sold their family business". Puget Sound Business Journal.
  8. ↑ Baker, Geoff (September 5, 2018). "NHL Seattle minority owners include Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer and family of former Sonics owner". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  9. ↑ Schlosser, Kurt (January 30, 2019). "Seattle venture capitalist joins Reign FC ownership group as soccer team announces move to Tacoma and new stadium plans". GeekWire. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  10. ↑ Hays, Graham (December 19, 2019). "Lyon ownership group to buy Rapinoe's NWSL team Reign FC for $3.51 million". ESPN. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.