MLS Dynamo to Introduce De La Hoya

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Boxing icon Oscar De La Hoya will be formally introduced as a new co-owner of the Houston Dynamo on Friday. De La Hoya has acquired a 25 percent stake in Major League Soccer's back-to-back champions through his company Golden Boy Promotions, with business partner Gabriel Brener acquiring an identical stake.

The Anschutz Entertainment Group, which has been seeking to sell the Dynamo to focus on its other MLS franchise, the Los Angeles Galaxy, will retain a 50 percent holding in the club - valued between $40-50 million. AEG will also take a lead in the Dynamo's planned stadium project in downtown Houston.

The Dynamo are hoping De La Hoya's profile, particularly in the Hispanic community, can help the club build on its growing status. "This will certainly help in terms of Oscar being an icon in the Latino community and also having won gold medals on the U.S. Olympic team so we get the best of both worlds with his celebrity status," said Houston general manager Oliver Luck on Wednesday. De La Hoya is a former Olympic and world champion at five different weight classes.