All-Time Great, Alpine Skier Mikaela Shiffrin Joins Denver NWSL Ownership Group

DENVER — World champion alpine skier and Colorado native Mikaela Shiffrin has joined the ownership group for the Denver NWLS expansion team, the club announced Tuesday morning. She joins majority owner Rob Cohen, Mellody Hobson, Jon-Erik Borgen and Kaia Borgen Moritz, Neelima Joshi and Dhiren Jhaveri and Molly Coors.

The club’s ownership group, staff and local partners continue to grow with a variety of backgrounds and roots in the state. Shiffrin is one of the most decorated competitive skiers of all-time, men’s or women’s. The Vail, Colorado, native is a five-time Overall World Cup champion with 101 World Cup victories (Lindsey Vonn has 82). Shiffrin has two Olympic Medals, including the 2014 Slalom Gold and 2018 Giant Slalom Gold. She’s the second ski-related figure to join the ownership group along with the Borgen family.

Shiffrin joining ownership makes perfect sense

Shiffrin’s off-slope pursuits include the Share Winter Foundation to improve youth access to winter sports, making the sport more sustainable, and mental health awareness.

“I’m beyond thrilled to join the ownership group of Denver NWSL and support something so meaningful in the community I call home,” said Shiffrin in a statement. “The sport culture in Colorado is rich and deep, and — most notably — the growth of women’s sports is one of the most exciting movements in our culture today. To be part of it, and to help bring professional women’s soccer to Colorado, is not only an incredible investment opportunity — but it is both an honor and a joy.”

Shiffrin probably isn’t bankrolling the club, to be clear. Between her sponsorship money and earnings each competitive season earning $7,498,873.41 since the 2012 FIS season (the furthest the FIS prize money data goes back). She’s well off, but is not controlling-shareholder-kind-of-money loaded. Compare that to the $110 million expansion fee ownership (mostly Rob Cohen) paid a few months ago. So she’s definitely in for less than 10% of this puppy. But there’s something to be said for star power, local celebrity, and having a well-known person other than someone with the last name Coors. Think Magic Johnson with LAFC and the LA Dodgers.

Where Things Stand

This ownership group has a lot of experience, capital, and local bonafides. Having Colorado natives who got to where they were doing their thing in Colorado who understand the community matters. Jordan Angeli started it. With new President Jen Millet and now Shiffrin, they’re going from strength to strength.

“Mikaela’s commitment to excellence, her global impact, and her deep Colorado roots make her a perfect addition to our ownership group,” said Rob Cohen, controlling owner of Denver NWSL in a club statement. “We’re building a club with purpose, and having Mikaela’s vision and voice in that journey will be invaluable.”

This comes ahead of Monday’s city council vote on the $70 million tax-payer contribution to the project which the club and Mayor Mike Johnson have called a “public private partnership.” Denverite covered yesterday ownership suggesting the club could utilize a TIF, or tax increment financing along with this. It’s complicated. We probably spend too much money as a society paying for sports stadiums for teams owned by billionaires. Anyways, Burgundy Wave will be covering that soon.

Welcome to WoSo, Mikaela.

Photo Credit: Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images

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