Six months after announcing its operating rights had been sold for an MLS-record amount, D.C. United is going back on the market. Global Development Partners, a real estate firm founded by Northern Virginia executives Willi Lauterbach and Timothy Kissler, has withdrawn from an agreement that had been trumpeted as the most lucrative in league history, an estimated $26 million.Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), which has operated United since 2001, will continue to run the club until a new buyer is found.
My friend at DCenters has some speculation (which I suspect is correct), and he isn't happy.
One thing I am sure of: Despite being American professional soccer's most successful and well supported franchise, the team is as far away from getting a home of its own built as its ever been. Fans of United and MLS (like me) ought to be concerned.
