Draft:Arnim Whisler

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Arnim Whisler is a former owner of the Chicago Red Stars. As a result of the 2021 NWSL scandals - which made public his mismanagement of the team - he sold the team.[1]

Biography Apart from Red Stars Ownership

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Whisler graduated from Purdue University in 1985 after studying computer science, industrial management, Russian, and biology. He also has an MBA in finance and international business from the University of Chicago.[2]

He worked at Accenture for twenty years. He currently owns Sisyphus Group, Exquisite Homes, and Exquisite and Rare, Exquisite Designs. [2]

Whisler listed the following on his Twitter bio: "... real estate, antiques, designer, artist, poet, father, husband, promoter, voter...".[3]

Ownership of the Chicago Red Stars

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WPS 2009-2010

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In December 2006, the Women's Soccer Initiative[4] announced that six groups had signed a letter of intent and made a financial commitment for teams in the league that woud become the WPS. Women's Great Lakes Soccer Initiative - which would become the Chicago Red Stars - was one of the groups.[5] Arnim Whisler was one of over a dozen shareholders during the Red Stars' two seasons in the WPS. He, along with Gary Weaver, Jim Willett, and Peter Wilt were also the management group for the team.[6] In a letter from 2018, Whisler stated that in 2007 he became the sixth of seven founding Red Stars' owners.[7]

WPSL 2011

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After it was announced that the Red Stars would suspend operations and not play in the 2011 WPS season[8], it was later announced that the team would play in the WPSL in 2011.[9] Articles announcing the team joining the WPSL convyed Whisler as a co-owner of the team.[9][10]

WPSL Elite 2012

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After the WPS permanately suspended operations[11], the WPSL Elite was formed as the highest level of women's soccer in the U.S. The league consisted of eight teams, three of which (including the Red Stars) were former WPS teams.[12] In a 2018 letter, Whisler stated that "by 2012 I was all alone" which infers that this was the year that Whisler became the sole owner of the Red Stars. [7]

NWSL 2013-2023

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In June 2012, the league that would become the NWSL was announced with play starting in 2013. The Red Stars were one of four former WPS teams announced as anticipated teams in the league.[13]

Arnim Whisler was the sole owner from the beginning of the NWSL in 2013 until 2021 when it was announced in March that new investors were added to form an ownership group for the club.[14]

On November 22, 2021, The Washington Post published reporting that reports of abuse of players by head coach Rory Dames had been ignored.[15] Due to his part in allowing Dames' abuse, Arnim Whisler announced he would sell the club in December 2022.[16] In September 2023 the NWSL Board of Governors approved the sale of the club to a group led by Laura Ricketts, which ended Arnim Whisler's ownership of the Red Stars.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler selling stake in NWSL club". ESPN. 5 December 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Arnim Whisler Linkedin". Linkedin. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "@arnimiii Twitter account". Twitter. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  4. ^ "Women's Soccer Initiative, Inc. About Us". Women's Soccer Initiative, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "Relaunch of WUSA set for spring 2008". Internet Archive from ESPN Soccernet. Archived from the original on 2011-05-25. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  6. ^ "2009 WPS Red Stars Staff". Internet Archive from Women's Pro Soccer. Archived from the original on 2009-08-13. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "10 YEARS: A LETTER FROM THE OWNER". Chicago Red Stars. 19 March 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "Red Stars suspend season due to lack of investors". Daily Herald. 12 December 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Red Stars to play in WPSL in 2011". The Equalizer. 26 April 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "Chicago Red Stars Joining Women's Premier Soccer League for 2011 Season". Hot Time in Old Town. 25 April 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  11. ^ "WPS finally folds". SoccerAmerica. 18 May 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  12. ^ "WPSL Elite Chicago Red Stars Open WPSL Elite Season at Home Sunday". Press Release Distribution. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  13. ^ "New women's soccer league in the works for 2013 following meeting in Chicago". The Equalizer. 29 June 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  14. ^ "Chicago Red Stars Introduce Groundbreaking New Ownership Group". NWSL. March 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "'Nobody cares': NWSL players say U.S. Soccer failed to act on abuse claims against Red Stars coach". Washington Post. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  16. ^ "Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler selling stake in NWSL club". ESPN. 5 December 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  17. ^ "Why Laura Ricketts jumped at the 'opportunity to have a culture change, to really write a new chapter' as owner of the Chicago Red Stars". Chicago Tribune. September 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2024.