Listen to this article 5 min
In its fifth season, Birmingham Legion Football Club has secured an investment from a nine-time NBA All-Star.
Dominique Wilkins, one of 22 players to score more than 25,000 points in his NBA career, is now a part-owner of the soccer team and making a key investment in the future of Birmingham's sports scene.
The amount of the investment was not disclosed.
Wilkins, who is currently a vice president of basketball for the Atlanta Hawks, has developed deep ties with Birmingham through his work as board chairman of KultureCity, a nonprofit advocating for acceptance of individuals with "invisible disabilities." The nonprofit works with an assortment of celebrities in addition to Wilkins, including musical acts Jason Isbell and Grouplove, actor Randall Park and comedian Ken Jeong. KultureCity currently has a sensory room at Legion’s matches in Protective Stadium and the Legion aims to boost that relationship by including the nonprofit logo on regular season jerseys to launch this July.
“Investing in this city is important to me," Wilkins said. "Brave men, women, and children of Birmingham dared to challenge the status quo to demand justice, equality, and opportunity for all. I’m excited to be a part of Legion’s work to nurture communities and foster growth. Together, we can honor Birmingham’s past and creating a legacy for future generations."
According to the NBA, Wilkins retired from the NBA at seventh place on the all-time scoring list. In 2006, he was installed in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame alongside other former players from his era including Birmingham's Charles Barkley and Joe Dumars.
The investment comes after a record attendance win for the team. Legion had 18,418 fans in the stands at a recent match against David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF.
“Legion FC exists to improve Birmingham through the game of soccer," Legion FC President Jay Heaps said. "We are passionate about growing soccer in this community and being a source of pride for our city. It’s been amazing to see the crowds grow at our games - fans that have been here since day one and fans discovering Legion for the first time. We’re excited to continue that growth with Dominique helping discover new ways to create impact.”
In 2001, Legion FC expanded its ownership group by adding Scott Goldberg, chief executive officer of Atlas Senior Living. Goldberg said he joined the group mainly to help support the community but also recognizes soccer's growing popularity. At the time, Lee Styslinger III, co-owner of the team and CEO of Altec, said he was committed to growing the fan base and was optimistic it can lead to more fan engagement and more overall growth for the team.
Birmingham Legion FC played its first season in 2019 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham stadium. The team relocated its home base to Protective Stadium in 2021.