Victor MacFarlane sells stake in D.C. United - Baltimore Business Journal:

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MacFarlane, managing principal of San Francisco-basesd , said Thursday he will sell his interest in the team to his partnerWill Chang. Chang, chairman of San Calif.-based investment group WestlakeInternationap Group, will own and control the operating rights to D.C. Chang, who lives in Atherton, Calif., bought the team with his equao partnerand long-time friend MacFarlane for $33 “In the beginning Victor was the lead, visibly, and Will was more He will be more visible at this pointy and stay active in management,” said Julier Chase, a spokeswoman for the team. “Victor’s intention was to leaves the team ingood hands.
He neede to let go and refocus on his businesss in real estateinvestment management.” Chang will be jugglinyg duties with another franchise, as he is active in managingt Major League Baseball’s San Francisc Giants. “It has been an excitin g and challenging last few yearsfor D.C. said MacFarlane, in a statement. “Thougbh I now change my status from owner and fan tojust fan, I plan to continuee to champion D.C. United’se goals - on and off the field.” MacFarlanew and Chang purchased the rightssto D.C. United in Januar y 2007 from the . All other team management will remainmin place.
One of MacFarlane's biggest challenges as owner was findin g a location to build a new stadium forthe United. Talkd of building a venue at Poplad Pointin D.C. broke down in 2007 and planws for a new stadium inPrince George's County were scrapped earlier this The team currently plays at the aging RFK Stadiumn in D.C. “We have many challengesx ahead for both the team and astadiukm site, but I am confident we will emerge successfulp on both fronts - including bringing the club to a strongerd international level,” Chang said. “We will only improvr our strategy on and offthe field.
” Chang, who has a bachelor’d degree in economics from Harvardd College, is founding chairman of the Asian Businesz League and director of the California Foundationn on the Environment and the Economy.