Louisville City FC will see a major change at the top, as chairman Wayne Estopinal is reducing his role within the organization’s ranks.
Those who have followed Louisville City FC will likely recognize Estopinal, as he has been publicly representing the team as it works with Louisville on planning a new stadium. While the franchise is drawing very good attendance figures, the organization–including Estopinal–has stated that Louisville City FC would be more financially viable if it had a soccer-specific stadium rather than continuing with the current arrangement of sharing Louisville Slugger Field with MiLB’s Louisville Bats. Louisville FC has been working with the City of Louisville on a feasibility study that will consider a variety of stadium options.
Given that the study is reportedly nearing its conclusion and that the results are believed to be forthcoming, the change for Louisville City FC comes at a curious time. Estopinal will remain a part of the team’s ownership group, but says that other investors came to him about a change in leadership. More from the Courier-Journal:
Estopinal, also the president of TEG Architects in Louisville, revealed that a group of minority investors approached him about a month ago with the request.
“There’s a group of investors who feel like they would look to pursue other objectives now, and they feel that new leadership is needed to do that,” Estopinal said in a phone interview on Tuesday evening. “In the operating agreement that all investors have, it allows them that opportunity. It appears that there will be a meeting in the coming weeks to formally adopt this new leadership.”
Estopinal said he couldn’t confirm when the meeting would be held.
“Wayne has been a champion of the league and team for many years and we are all most appreciative of his vision and ability to help bring a professional soccer team to Louisville,” Louisville City FC president Amanda Duffy said in a statement. “While he is no longer involved in the day-to-day operation, we have a great ownership group that remains focused on achieving goals that benefit the Louisville community at large.”
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Image courtesy Louisville City.