NFL Star Russell Wilson Joins Seattle MLS Ownership Group

NFL quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife, R&B star Ciara, have become shareholders in the Seattle Sounders MLS team, joining 10 other new families in the club’s ownership group, all with direct ties to Seattle, bringing a wealth of expertise sports, entertainment, technology, broadcast and finance.

Wilson, who won the Super Bowl in 2013 and has been an NFL all-star six times in his seven seasons in the league, also joined a group that is looking to bring a NBA team to Seattle and is part of the group hoping to build a baseball stadium and lure an MLB team to Portland, Oregon.

This new group of Sounders investors is led by former Microsoft executive Terry Myerson.

Seattle-bred hip hop star Macklemore is also joining, in addition to several other representatives of Microsoft’s present and past, including CEO Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood.

Also joining is David Nathanson, who has overseen FOX Sports Media Group’s national sports networks.

This new group of partners joins Sounders FC’s existing Ownership contingent of majority owner Adrian Hanauer, Drew Carey and Jody Allen.

Sounders FC founding owner, Hollywood producer Joe Roth has announced his departure from the club.

“We are doubling down on this community and growing our local roots even deeper,” said Hanauer. “Sounders FC was born right here in Seattle, and for more than 40 years, the club has forged a meaningful legacy that is deep and far-reaching. Today’s news is a testament to what our community has accomplished, as 11 new families have joined with the broader Sounders family as fans and invested stewards of our club.”