NJ/NY Gotham FC has welcomed Thirty Five Ventures (35V), a group co-founded by two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant and entrepreneur Rich Kleiman, to its ownership group, the club announced Wednesday.
Durant and Kleiman join Kristin Bernert, Karen Bryant and Carli Lloyd as minority investors in the NWSL franchise.
“As a New York-based company, the opportunity for us to partner with a forward-thinking team like Gotham FC was a no brainer,” 35V co-founder Rich Kleiman said in a statement. “There’s been so much growth in the NWSL in recent years, and the chance to be a part of that growth and work directly with the Gotham FC executive team and players is really exciting.”
35V joins Gotham FC’s Ownership Group.
— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) May 4, 2022
Co-founders Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman make significant investment in soccer club.
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The partnership with Gotham FC follows 35V’s other investments in women’s sports, including Just Women’s Sports, as well as a strategic collaboration with Athletes Unlimited, with Durant and Kleiman serving as AU board members.
“Bringing in Kevin, Rich, and 35V as investors is a huge statement about the positive trajectory of our club,” Gotham FC chair Tammy Murphy said in a statement. “The level of enthusiasm they’ve displayed has been above and beyond anything we could have anticipated. We have tremendous aspirations this year both on and off the field and, together with 35V’s support and resources, we’re going to make sure New Jersey and New York hear all about it!”
Thirty Five Ventures’ investment in Gotham FC includes additional collaborative components, including content creation, social media support, player relations and community outreach.
Gotham FC will host the North Carolina Courage in the team’s home opener at Red Bull Arena on May 14, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. ET.