Sporting Kansas City, one of Major League Soccer's most valuable teams, is set to be sold in a deal worth around $700 million. This price tag represents the highest value ever achieved for a majority stake in an MLS team and marks a significant milestone in the league's growing popularity.
The Illig family, who have owned Sporting KC since 2006, will sell off 71% of their shares to one of the team's existing limited partners. The new owner, Peter Mallouk, president and CEO of wealth advisory firm Creative Planning, is expected to own around 80% of the team.
The sale is seen as a significant development for MLS, which has been experiencing steady growth in recent years. The league's valuations have risen steadily, with an average value of $690 million in 2025, up 19% from 2023's $579 million. Last year, three clubs were valued at over $1 billion, with LAFC leading the rankings.
The sale comes as MLS prepares to kick off its 31st season in February and is also undergoing significant changes, including a new competition calendar that will align it with most other professional soccer leagues around the world. The league has also restructured its media rights deal with Apple and folded its Season Pass broadcast package into the standard Apple TV subscription.
Sporting KC, which played in front of an average crowd of 21,500 fans last season, has a loyal fan base but struggled financially in recent years. However, the team's revenue is expected to rise again this year, thanks to new stadium naming rights and sponsorship deals.
The sale marks another significant turning point for MLS, which is on track to become one of North America's top professional soccer leagues. With the league's growing popularity and financial stability, Sporting KC is set to continue punching above its weight class in the competitive world of professional soccer.
The Illig family, who have owned Sporting KC since 2006, will sell off 71% of their shares to one of the team's existing limited partners. The new owner, Peter Mallouk, president and CEO of wealth advisory firm Creative Planning, is expected to own around 80% of the team.
The sale is seen as a significant development for MLS, which has been experiencing steady growth in recent years. The league's valuations have risen steadily, with an average value of $690 million in 2025, up 19% from 2023's $579 million. Last year, three clubs were valued at over $1 billion, with LAFC leading the rankings.
The sale comes as MLS prepares to kick off its 31st season in February and is also undergoing significant changes, including a new competition calendar that will align it with most other professional soccer leagues around the world. The league has also restructured its media rights deal with Apple and folded its Season Pass broadcast package into the standard Apple TV subscription.
Sporting KC, which played in front of an average crowd of 21,500 fans last season, has a loyal fan base but struggled financially in recent years. However, the team's revenue is expected to rise again this year, thanks to new stadium naming rights and sponsorship deals.
The sale marks another significant turning point for MLS, which is on track to become one of North America's top professional soccer leagues. With the league's growing popularity and financial stability, Sporting KC is set to continue punching above its weight class in the competitive world of professional soccer.
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. And with the new competition calendar and revamped media rights deal, I think we're looking at big changes for the league.
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this $700 million sale price is wild lol! I mean, it just shows how much value MLS teams have gained over the years. It's crazy to think that 3 clubs last year were valued at over a billion 
and now Sporting KC is part of that crew too! The Illig family has been with Sporting KC since 2006 so I'm curious to see what Peter Mallouk will bring to the table 
! And can we talk about how cool it is that they're aligning their calendar with other leagues? That's some serious pro soccer moves 
A $700 million sale price for a majority stake in an MLS team? That's insane! 
Plus, 80% ownership stake? That's gonna bring some serious stability to Sporting KC.
That's not bad at all. And with the new competition calendar and media rights deal with Apple, things are looking bright.
. But at the same time, you gotta wonder what this means for the team itself. Are they gonna focus on building that brand or are they just gonna keep selling off shares? 
Either way, I'm hyped to see how Sporting KC performs in the upcoming season 
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. I'm curious to see how this changes the dynamic of the league and if it'll continue to grow even more 
, this sale is a HUGE deal for MLS! I mean, $700 million is crazy 
. I mean, remember when MLS was just a small league with like 10 teams? Now we got huge deals like this one for $700 million! It's crazy to think that just a few years ago we were seeing clubs valued at over a billion, so the growth is insane 
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The value of MLS teams has been on a roll lately, with the league's valuations rising steadily 
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, from the new competition calendar to the revamped media rights deal with Apple 
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. But seriously, it's awesome to see Sporting KC getting a new owner who's gonna help them turn things around. The league is really on the rise now, and I'm excited to see how they'll compete against some of the big boys in Europe. It's like watching your favorite childhood band come back together for one last tour – you just gotta get ready for it! 