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MLS and KKR Form Hometown Soccer to Boost NEXT Pro

5/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

In the United States, Major League Soccer and KKR formed Hometown Soccer Holdings to grow MLS NEXT Pro.
It will fund stadium builds, new club brands, and better matchday experiences, led by CEO Tom Glick and President Chris Klein.
MLS NEXT Pro has 30 clubs—27 MLS affiliates and three independents—and will add four independent teams in 2027.
Since its 2022 launch, 255 MLS NEXT Pro players have signed first-team MLS contracts.
KKR invests via its Ascendant Fund and has pledged nearly $9 billion to sports since 2010.

Summary

Story summary

Nashville SC’s Next Pro side plays in Huntsville, Alabama, about 100 miles from its market.
FC Dallas’ North Texas SC will move to an $85 million stadium in Mansfield, Texas, 55 miles from Frisco.
Hometown Soccer plans to rebrand and relocate clubs to new communities, tying moves to real-estate projects.
The deal excludes three independent Next Pro clubs, though MLS intends to add more unaffiliated teams later.
Moelis advised MLS and Andalusian advised KKR, while KKR’s sports portfolio also includes PlayOn! and Varsity Brands.

Summary

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Hometown Soccer Holdings will be owned equally by MLS and KKR, with each holding a 50 % stake at launch.
KKR’s investment thesis points to more than 100 U.S. markets that are large enough to support professional soccer but currently lack a team.
The venture is targeting publicly funded, municipally owned stadiums, citing Mansfield, Texas’ $88 M stadium and Grand Rapids’ $175 M venue as prototypes.
Central staff for HSH will operate out of Charlotte, while on-the-ground business teams will be placed in each new market.
The joint-venture concept has been in development since early 2024 and received final MLS owners’ approval only months ago.
HSH’s model is likened to Diamond Baseball Holdings, which has consolidated dozens of Minor League Baseball clubs into community-focused operations.

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Story summary

In the United States, Major League Soccer and KKR formed Hometown Soccer Holdings to grow MLS NEXT Pro.
It will fund stadium builds, new club brands, and better matchday experiences, led by CEO Tom Glick and President Chris Klein.
MLS NEXT Pro has 30 clubs—27 MLS affiliates and three independents—and will add four independent teams in 2027.
Since its 2022 launch, 255 MLS NEXT Pro players have signed first-team MLS contracts.
KKR invests via its Ascendant Fund and has pledged nearly $9 billion to sports since 2010.

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