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 — The last 13 years as Chicago Cubs co-owner prepared Laura Ricketts for this moment.
Ricketts spearheaded an investment group that officially became the new owner of the Chicago Red Stars on Friday after approval from the National Women’s Soccer League Board of Governors.
The Red Stars were purchased for $35.5 million, a record for an existing NWSL club, with another $25 million earmarked to be put into the team.
“I love women’s sports and played them, so it was interesting, the idea of leveraging everything — all the knowledge and expertise that have been gained by owning the Cubs — and putting that to work for this team,” Ricketts told the Chicago Tribune. “This team has had some really challenging times. The opportunity to have a culture change, to really write a new chapter with this team, was really exciting.”
It became clear 11 months ago the Red Stars likely would need to be sold.
Red Stars players released a statement Oct. 11 calling on the team’s board of directors to remove owner Armin Whisler after the systemic abuse outlined in former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates’ report on the
