Chris Wright will step down as CEO of Minnesota United FC following the 2021 season.
Upon joining MNUFC in the fall of 2017, Wright focused on establishing the Club as a successful member of the sports world in the Twin Cities, the state of Minnesota, Major League Soccer and beyond. He had previously spent more than two decades in leadership positions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx.
“We jointly set the timeline for Chris at three to four years — a period that would allow us to establish the foundation of our club in this great community and within a highly competitive sports market,” said Managing Partner Dr. Bill McGuire. “A new home for the team in Saint Paul stood at the top of our to-do list, but the work included addressing many challenges that were necessary to establish Minnesota United as a going concern. They have been successfully met.”
Wright brought his extensive experience with the Wolves and Lynx to the MNUFC front office, crafting connections through fan, corporate and community relationships as the team built and moved into Allianz Field in 2019. He maintained the Club’s focus on its core values, and established a service culture epitomized by the exceptional and memorable gameday experience for fans at Allianz Field. The essential bond between the Club and its fans was always a cornerstone of the Club, guiding what it has done and how it has evolved.
A native of England, Wright saw the move to MNUFC as a return to his roots. In addition to playing as a goalkeeper in his younger days, he came to America to work in the Major Indoor Soccer League, eventually making his way to Minnesota to serve as the general manager of the Minnesota Strikers. He brought his passion for the game to his work for the Loons, and an unwavering belief in the Club’s goal to take its place in the world of soccer, and for sports to be an integral part of life for everyone.
Reflecting on his years with MNUFC, Chris said, “This has been an amazing period in my own professional journey, as I started my career in soccer and have ended it helping build a club that I love, in a community that I love.”
Minnesota United thanks Chris for his years of service with the Club and extends its deepest appreciation to him and his family, secure in the knowledge that he will forever be a part of MNUFC. As he has said so many times in the past four years, “Once a Loon, always a Loon.”
The Club expects to name its new CEO in the next month.
