Andrew Hauptman Sells Stake In Chicago Fire Soccer Club

As first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, and later confirmed by the club, Chicago Fire majority owner Andrew Hauptman has sold the remainder of his shares in the club to Joe Mansueto.

Mansueto joined the ownership group of the Fire last year, buying 49 percent of the club and is now the club’s sole owner and operator. He will also serve as club chairman.

Hauptman bought the Fire in 2007 from Anschutz Entertainment Group, the current owner/operators of the LA Galaxy. His tenure as majority owner is marked by little on-pitch success in between large swaths of failure, as well as high-profile clashes with supporters, including the infamous 2013 Editorial and last year’s banning of Sector Latino.

In the official club statement, and citing no evidence, Hauptman played up his tenure as majority owner as a time of growth and success for the club on and off the pitch.

“What the Fire has achieved has been transformational for the Club and the city of Chicago,” Hauptman said. “We’ve significantly increased soccer’s presence and built an ecosystem that rivals any club across North America.

“I’m extremely proud of the positioning of the Club at this historic juncture. I know that the next step of returning to Soldier Field will make Chicago proud and I look forward to cheering on Joe, the Club and its supporters as they continue this legacy.”

Hot Time In Old Town will have more on this story as it develops.