MLS: league buys the franchise Chivas USA (Los Angeles) for $70m, will resell and rebrand the club

Major League Soccer (MLS, USA-CAN) announced it has purchased Chivas USA from franchise owners Jorge Vergara and Angelica Fuentes on 20/02/2014. Effective immediately, MLS will assume responsibility for operating the club. The league will appoint an experienced sports executive to serve as the president of Chivas USA until a new ownership group can be established. Manager Wilmer Cabrera, appointed on 09/01/2014, and the rest of technical staff will remain with the club and report to the new president.

The MLS will resell the franchise to a new ownership group that will be committed to building a new stadium and keeping the team in Los Angeles. The league stated it has had initial discussions with a number of qualified potential owners and intends to finalise an agreement with a new group by the end of 2014.

Chivas USA currently pay a lease to play in the StubHub Center, which is owned by the AEG group, owners of the LA Galaxy. The club will still be called Chivas USA during the 2014 MLS season (which begins on 08/03/2014), and will be rebranded in 2015 with a new team name and logo…