D.C. United President/CEO, Kevin Payne, Steps Down

Kevin Payne steps down as President and CEO

 

 

Washington, D.C. (November 27, 2012) - D.C. United, the most successful club in United States professional soccer history, announced today that Kevin Payne has stepped down as president and CEO, marking an end to nearly two decades with the organization.

“Kevin’s lengthy list of accomplishments speaks to his strong acumen as a leader,” said owner Jason Levien. “His dedication to the organization deserves deep admiration and appreciation. As D.C. United begins a new chapter, Kevin's leadership has helped to prepare us for this important and potential-filled inflection point in the club’s history.”

“As we thank Kevin for his service and wish him well, we look to the future with tremendous optimism,” added owner Erick Thohir.
Since D.C. United’s inception in 1996, Payne has served as the club’s lead executive. In addition to the club’s honors during his tenure, Payne’s resume at United is filled with individual League honors and awards and, for his efforts to promote soccer in the United States, he was awarded the prestigious Werner Fricker Builder Award by U.S. Soccer in February 2011.

“They say the only constant in life is change,” said Payne. “For me, D.C. United has been like my child. We brought the team into the D.C. and national sports world 17 years ago and every day since – good and bad – has been a labor of love. This team has provided many great memories of championships and historic accomplishments, but I will best remember the people I've had the chance to meet, to work with, strive with, celebrate with, and sometimes to share disappointment with.
“To the players, coaches, co-workers and fans, I can only say thank you so much for the great privilege of having been part of the D.C. United family. It’s very difficult for me to express how I have felt, and still feel, about all of you. I will forward a longer statement in the weeks to come to try to do a better job of thanking everyone for all they have meant to me.
“I'm very excited about the next phase of my life, and very excited about the next phase for D.C. United, as well. I know the leadership of the team will take it to new heights on, and off, the field. I look forward to returning to RFK and wish everyone in the D.C. United family the best of luck.”
D.C. United finished the 2012 MLS campaign 17-10-7 (58 points), placing third in the overall League table. The club finished the regular season with a seven-game unbeaten streak before a dramatic playoff run ended in the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Very few people in American soccer have put their stamp on a club as Kevin has with D.C. United,” said United Head Coach Ben Olsen. “His loyalty to the team and me is something for which I’ll always be indebted.”

United Release Comcast SportsNet Schedule, John Harkes Returns to Broadcast Booth

Official United Press Release:

D.C. United, Comcast SportsNet announce television schedule

John Harkes returns to Comcast SportsNet booth

Washington, D.C. (March 5, 2012) – In conjunction with Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, the region’s premier source for multiplatform sports coverage, D.C. United today announced an extension of their longstanding partnership with the network, as well as the regional television schedule for the club’s 2012 Major League Soccer campaign. 

As part of the agreement, Comcast SportsNet will provide United supporters unsurpassed coverage of the Black-and-Red, with a schedule of 15 regular-season games this season, beginning with the Opening Night against Sporting Kansas City. United also announced today that the club’s match at Toronto FC on May 5 will kick-off at 4:00 p.m., the result of television considerations for the host club.

“We’re excited to continue working with our long-time partners at Comcast SportsNet,” said United President and CEO Kevin Payne. “They continue to place tremendous effort and resources to bring United games and news coverage into the homes of our supporters.  We appreciate the true partnership that we’ve developed with the Comcast SportsNet team.”

In addition to the season opener, additional highlights of this season’s regional television schedule on Comcast SportsNet include an appearance by the expansion Montreal Impact, as well as matches with Eastern Conference rivals Philadelphia Union, the New England Revolution and Chicago Fire.

“This continues to be a great partnership that delivers a wealth of high-quality, exciting D.C. United programming to our viewers,” said Comcast SportsNet Senior Vice President and General Manager Rebecca Schulte. “We are excited to produce comprehensive, multi-platform United coverage for their passionate fans this season.”

A fixture in the broadcast booth since the inaugural season, Dave Johnson enters his 17th year as the television voice of D.C. United. One of the premier soccer announcers in the United States, Johnson has done play-by-play of both outdoor and indoor soccer for nearly 20 years, appearing on Comcast SportsNet, Fox Soccer Channel, Prime Network, ESPN, and Pax Networks.  In the summer of 2006, Johnson served as play-by-play announcer for XM radio’s World Cup coverage and was behind the microphone for 26 games including the final in Berlin. Also on radio, Johnson has called the 2000 MLS Cup, the 2000 Gold Cup, the 2000 Olympic qualifying tournament, and several US Men’s National Team friendlies and World Cup qualifiers. His work as sports director at WTOP Radio was honored with an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2008.

This season’s broadcasts will be highlighted by the return of John Harkes to the Comcast SportsNet broadcast booth.  An iconic midfielder with United and the U.S. Men’s National Team, Harkes previously called United games in 2005 and 2006.  Harkes later worked with ESPN, calling MLS and U.S. Men’s National Team games from 2006 to 2011, including World Cup matches in 2006 and 2010.  As a player for the Black-and-Red, he led United to five major titles in three seasons as team captain from 1996-1998, including back-to-back MLS Cup Championships in 1996 and 1997, the 1996 U.S. Open Cup, the 1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, and the 1998 Inter-American Cup. Harkes was named to MLS All-Star teams all three years.  Harkes was the first player named to a D.C. United roster on October 17, 1995 and was the first player inducted to the Hall of Tradition on May 14, 2003.

Comcast SportsNet’s 2012 coverage of D.C. United will also be prominently featured on the network’s full lineup of daily news and entertainment programs, including SportsTalk Live and Geico SportsNet Central. Comcast SportsNet also provides complete coverage of United online at CSNwashington.com and CSNbaltimore.com.

2012 D.C. United Schedule