Houston Dynamo FC
Ted Segal (EJS Group) acquisition · 19 May 2021
- Seller
- Gabriel Brener and other minority holders incl. Jake Silverstein
- Stake acquired
- —
- Control
- Yes
- Reported consideration
- ~€328m
- Implied equity value
- —
- League
- MLS
- Country
- United States
- Confidence
- MEDIUM
Ted Segal (EJS Group) acquired a majority stake in Houston Dynamo FC from Gabriel Brener and other minority holders incl. Jake Silverstein, announced 19 May 2021, closing 30 Jun 2021.
Reported consideration was ~€328m. Reporting placed the club's value at ~€328m.
Nearest pre-acquisition revenue was ~€27.7m (FY 2019).
- Announced
- 19 May 2021
- Closed
- 30 Jun 2021
- Stake after transaction
- —
- Status
- completed
Reported consideration
What the buyer reportedly paid for the stake
Implied 100% equity value
Calculated: consideration ÷ stake acquired
Reported club valuation
Enterprise value
Only shown when debt/cash near the transaction date is established
Debt assumed / restructured
Primary capital injection
Total announced investment commitment
Commitments are not purchase price and not valuation
Nearest pre-acquisition financial year: 2019
Revenue
Wages
EBITDA
Net debt
Net income
(Houston Dynamo FC (incl. Houston Dash).) Ted Segal agreed in May 2021 to buy the controlling stake in Houston Dynamo FC and the NWSL Houston Dash from Gabriel Brener, with the sale completing in June 2021 per Sportico's July valuations piece (exact closing date not found in a primary source; MLS approval release not located). The ~$400m figure is consistently reported (Sportico, ESPN, Athletic) but never confirmed by the parties; the stadium is publicly owned so the price reflects the franchises and the stadium operating relationship.
Stake size undisclosed, so no implied 100% equity value is calculated; the $400m is treated as the deal-implied club valuation, which Sportico put at 13x revenue — we back out an ESTIMATED revenue of ~$31m (2019 basis). No filed accounts exist for MLS clubs. FX: USD→EUR 0.82. Franchise-model caveat: MLS/NWSL/Liga MX values are closed-league franchise prices (no relegation risk, league-controlled entry, single-entity revenue sharing in MLS) and are NOT comparable to European open-pyramid club prices, where sporting risk and player-trading economics drive value.
- Sportico: Real Estate Developer Segal Buying Houston's MLS Club for Nearly $400 Million ↗Tier 3 · media
2021-05-19 — “Segal near agreement to purchase Dynamo for about $400 million from majority owner Gabriel Brener, who retains a minority stake; includes NWSL Dash and stadium business relationship; De La Hoya and Harden remain with smaller stakes.”
2021-05-19 — “Segal close to acquiring a controlling stake for around $400 million; deal doesn't include BBVA Stadium or training facility, which are publicly owned; Brener reduced to minority.”
2021-05-19 — “Price will be around $400 million; Brener maintains minority stake.”
- Sportico MLS Team Valuations 2021 ↗Tier 3 · media
2021-07-14 — “Houston Dynamo FC were sold in June [2021]; clubs valued at roughly $400 million, 13 times revenue in the case of Houston; MLS clubs valued at 12x revenue on average.”