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Peter Wilt is a soccer executive. He was the founding president and general manager of the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer (MLS). He was involved in efforts to expand MLS to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and remains involved in soccer in the Midwest, particularly in Chicago.[2]
Peter Wilt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1960 (age 63–64) |
| Education | Marquette University[1] |
| Occupation(s) | President and CEO of Chicago House AC |
| Known for | Founding member of: Chicago Fire FC Chicago Red Stars Indy Eleven National Independent Soccer Association Forward Madison Green Bay Voyageurs FC Chicago House AC |
History
editPeter Wilt was born in McHenry, Illinois, and gained his start in sports working for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball and Milwaukee Admirals hockey teams before breaking into soccer with the Milwaukee Wave.[3]
Wilt gained a following for answering questions from fans through the BigSoccer Internet message boards[4] and now maintains his own blog on Chicago soccer issues.
In his seven seasons as Chicago's GM, the Fire won one MLS Cup, three U.S. Open Cups and one Supporters' Shield. In 2005, Wilt was fired by Anschutz Entertainment Group, the team's owner.[5] The following year, he became the chief executive officer of Milwaukee Professional Soccer, a group bidding to bring an MLS franchise to Milwaukee, but left the position to become CEO of the Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer that started play in 2009. After one season with the Red Stars, Wilt departed for a front office position with the Milwaukee Wave. After one season with the Wave, Wilt founded the now-defunct expansion MISL side Chicago Riot.
In late 2012, Wilt partnered with a group of Indianapolis-based investors, headed by Ersal Ozdemir, to determine the ability of the market to support a North American Soccer League team in the city, with eventual hopes to join MLS.[3] On January 16, 2013, the league awarded Indianapolis the league's twelfth franchise, naming Wilt team President. The team, known as Indy Eleven, began play in the 2014 season.
In January 2016, Wilt stepped down from his role with Indy Eleven to pursue establishing an NASL team in Chicago.[6][7] He later announced that talks were in progress to secure both short-term and long-term stadium options, and was exploring partnerships with various potential investors and the potential of establishing a supporter ownership program.[8][9]
On June 6, 2017, Wilt announced that the newly formed National Independent Soccer Association would begin play in 2018, starting with 8 to 10 teams, later revised to 8 to 12 teams.[10] The league also outlined plans to introduce a promotion/relegation system once they reached their goal of standing up 24 teams, becoming the first league in US professional soccer to do so. The league would act as a feeder league to the North American Soccer League.[11][12]
On May 17, 2018, Wilt left the NISA to assist standing up a future professional team in Madison, Wisconsin of the USL League One, later named Forward Madison FC.[13] A committee of club owners was formed to elect new leadership within the organization.[14] Wilt was also named the managing director of Green Bay Voyageurs FC, Forward Madison's affiliate in USL League Two.[15]
On October 24, 2019, Forward Madison announced Wilt's departure from the club in order to take a role with the USL.[16]
On September 10, 2020, the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) announced that an investor group, led by Wilt, had applied for a club to play in the Chicago market.[17]
On January 10, 2024, the Open Soccer Alliance was formed with Peter Wilt as chief strategic officer.[18] The Alliance's stated goal is, "To unite advocates for an open system structure of professional and amateur soccer."[19]
References
edit- ^ Reiner, Dan (April 14, 2016). "Firestarter: Wilt's ceaseless impact on Midwest soccer". Marquette Wire. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Wilt to Toronto: Make it happen". Canadian Soccer News. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ a b Lynch, Amy. "5 Questions: Indy Eleven's Peter Wilt shares love of soccer". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ Hruby, Patrick (May 21, 2003). "It came from the message boards". The Washington Times. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
- ^ "Fire Fire Peter Wilt, Fans Protest At Season Opener". Chicagoist. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ "JEFF BELSKUS NAMED INDY ELEVEN PRESIDENT". Indy Eleven. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ Tolmich, Ryan. "Peter Wilt looking to revitalize soccer in Chicago with NASL project". Sports by Ives. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ Kass, John. "Chicago needs a second soccer team". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ Rivera, Guillermo. "NASL looking to expand in Chicago - new ownership group has expressed interest". Chicago Now. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ "About". NISA. June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- ^ "New league seeks to finally bring pro/rel to US soccer". NISA. June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- ^ "City said to be ripe for pro soccer". June 28, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ^ "Big Top hires Peter Wilt to launch pro soccer team at Breese Stevens Field in 2019". May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
- ^ "Committee Formed to Select New NISA Leadership". May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ^ Bollier, Jeff. "League soccer to kick it at Capital Credit Union Park beginning in 2019". greenbaypressgazette.com. Green Bay Press Gazette. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- ^ Milewski, Todd. "Peter Wilt leaves Forward Madison FC managing director role for job with USL". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ Kennedy, Paul. "Peter Wilt launches another start-up, in another league". www.socceramerica.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021. (subscription required)
- ^ "Open Soccer Alliance Makes Its Case". Protagonist Soccer. January 23, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "OPEN SOCCER ALLIANCE LAUNCHES WITH AUTHENTIC VISION TO UNITE OPEN SYSTEM ADVOCATES AND REPLICATE GLOBAL SOCCER STRUCTURE | Open Soccer Alliance". Retrieved March 31, 2024.