Tems Joins San Diego FC Ownership Group
Singer-songwriter and global music icon Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, is now a member of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) San Diego FC’s ownership group in a Club Partner role through The Leading Vibe, her business entity. The move is not just a new blend of sports and music, but also signals a growing trend of entertainment personalities determining professional soccer’s future in the United States.
She announced in a video on her X (formerly Twitter) handle. She said: “I’m so stoked to announce 🚨 that I have officially joined @sandiegofc ownership group as a Club Partner! ⚽ Proud to support SDFC’s @right2dream initiative, empowering young talent on and off the field. Can’t wait for what’s ahead @mls !”.
The highly esteemed singer of hit songs across the globe is venturing into the sports business. With a position in San Diego FC’s ownership group, she is to be engaged in social and cultural programs of the club, a move that is in sync with her dream to inspire children and raise their lives. As details of her engagement in such programs such as the SD Youth Soccer Initiative are yet to be released, she is to deepen sports, music, and children’s involvement in the new partnership.
The soon-to-be-launched in 2025 San Diego FC has been working towards building a unique diverse ownership group of notable personalities in various business realms. Other prominent personalities such as award-winning actress/producer Issa Rae, Spanish former international player Juan Mata, and Major League baseball player Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres also find a position in the ownership team. The personalities in question possess a different set of knowledge, providing their input in determining the club’s brand and its popularity to a diverse set of fans beyond that of traditional soccer fans.
The club’s British-Egyptian billionaire owner Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation co-own it, a first in having a Native American tribe take a share in a professional team. The ownership is a milestone of great significance in moving forward in terms of representation and cultural diversity in sports. San Diego FC has also been eager to push forward in terms of developing the youth and developing soccer at the grassroots level, something that the entry of Tems is set to facilitate using her popularity and networks in the entertainment industry.
The entry of Tems in sports ownership also fits a trend of artists and sports personalities coming together to push forward social and cultural reforms. In the past few years, celebrity personalities such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Ryan Reynolds have heavily invested in soccer clubs, a trend that indicates a popularity of the sport among global personalities on the uprise. By entering, Tems is not just pushing forward her brand, but new models of working between sports and music, paving a way for new generations of talents to pursue their dreams across platforms.
Watch the video below:
