LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Las Vegas Lights soccer franchise has a new owner with a high-profile background in a different field.
Former MLB All-Star José Bautista has acquired the Las Vegas Lights FC. He bought the soccer team from Brett Lashbrook. The terms of the sale were not released.
Bautista released the following statement in a news release.
“Las Vegas is the place to be and has emerged as a big professional sports town, and I will do everything I can to push this club forward,” said Las Vegas Lights principal owner José Bautista. “As a soccer fan and former professional athlete, I am excited to be involved with the world’s game, Since my retirement from professional baseball, I have witnessed the incredible growth of soccer in the United States, and I look forward to sharing my love of sports with the Las Vegas soccer community.”
José Bautista, Las Vegas Lights principal owner
The Lights who play at downtown Cashman Field, start their season on March 9 in Memphis and are back in Las Vegas one week later. The team debuted in the USL Championship in 2018.
“José brings a competitive athlete’s mindset to everything he does, and he will certainly bring new expectations for the club’s performance, on and off the field,” said USL President Paul McDonough. “Jose’s vision for the sporting side is ambitious, including the acquisition of international players and the forming of an academy. We will support Jose during this transition period and look forward to seeing Lights FC shine brighter than ever in Vegas.”
Bautista was a six-time All-Star who spent most of his 15 years in MLB with the Toronto Blue Jays.