By VINCE MADURI
Billionaire Phil Anschutz has announced he is terminating the sale process of AEG and retaining ownership of the sports and entertainment company.
Along with this development, AEG also announced that Tim Leiweke will be replaced by Dan Beckerman as President and CEO.
AEG owns several sports properties including the LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo of MLS and was an instrumental force behind the growth of MLS, with Lieweke playing a key role in the league’s development as the head of AEG.
Anschutz is expected to take on a more hands-on approach to running the company, which had been put up for sale. AEG owns stake in the LA Kings, the LA Lakers as well as Home Depot Center. AEG is also working to try and bring an NFL team to Los Angeles.
Just what this means for the Galaxy and Dynamo remains to be seen.
At one point, AEG owned as many as five MLS teams, including the MetroStars (now the Red Bulls), the Chicago Fire and D.C. United.
Here are some other stories to catch up on all the action in MLS
RSL’S MANSALLY SUSPENDED, SABORIO FINED
The MLS Disciplinary Committee has issued punishments to two Real Salt Lake players following separate incidents in the team’s match against D.C. United over the weekend.
Defender Kenny Mansally was suspended a game and fined an undisclosed amount for “violent conduct” when he “used his head to strike D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen” in the 61st minute.
Mansally will miss this weekend’s rivalry match with the Colorado Rapids.
Forward Alvaro Saborio was also fined an undisclosed amount “for aggravated dissent toward the referee” in the 93rd minute.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY SEND FOUR PLAYERS OUT ON LOAN TO ORLANDO
Capitalizing on the new USL Pro agreement, Sporting Kansas City sent four players on loan to Orlando City, who the club partnered with following the league announcement.
Forward Dom Dwyer, midfielder Christian Duke, defender Yann Songo’o and goalkeeper Jon Kempin have been sent to Florida ahead of the start of the USL Pro season April 7th. Sporting will be able to recall any of the four at any point this season if need be.
Otherwise, the four players will help Orlando City try to retain the dominance over the lower league the club has been able to achieve the last two seasons, winning three of a possible four trophies.
Dom Dwyer is the only player of the four who has played for Kansas City at this point of their careers, appearing twice for the club.