Sports have always played a huge part in my life. I played baseball, basketball and football growing up and continued playing football into college. Sports have the power to bring people together – regardless of gender, age, socio-economic status or political affiliation. In my adult life, sports as a connection point have taken on an even greater meaning in my life; however, I never thought I would one day be a founder of a pre-professional women’s soccer team. That happened a bit on accident. The experience has not only changed my life, but it has further cemented my belief in the power of sports.

How It All Started

One day, I was listening to Wes Burdine’s podcast FiftyFive.One about the Minnesota United. The St. Paul bar owner was talking about a pre-professional men’s soccer team in Minneapolis and the need for a similar team across the river in St. Paul. Not thinking much of it, I sent Wes a direct message on Twitter. We got chatting, and those conversations eventually shifted from the need for a men’s semi-pro team to establishing a women’s pre-professional soccer club instead. We started talking about how to structure such a club and landed on the concept of a general benefit corporation – a private company that was allowed to take the public good into account instead of being beholden to shareholders. This would allow the team to not only focus on revenue but have a broader impact on the community.

Wes and others started organizing meetings around this concept, looking for the leadership to take it on. After starting with a couple dozen folks, after a series of meetings, nine of us remained in the room – all committed to bringing this idea of elevating women sports and community ownership to life. And that is when we all realized it was up to the nine of us to make it happen.

Establishing Our Purpose

Being the attorney in the group, I was uniquely positioned to help my co-founders check the legal boxes of becoming a business. However, one of the first orders of business was establishing our public benefit. What was the greater purpose we were trying to achieve? That was the easy part. Our goal was to create opportunities for women in sports, both on and off the field. Sports is, unsurprisingly, a competitive business. It is an industry that remains dominated by men. We wanted to be intentional about creating a space for women in sports to thrive – whether they were playing on the pitch or part of the front office. Four years after establishing the club, the vast majority of people we’ve hired are women – with a diversity in ages, backgrounds and experiences that make our club stronger each day.

Shifting the Narrative

As one of the founders and as the club’s general counsel, I’ve played a significant part in guiding the club and offering my legal insight along the way, but I’ve always been mindful of staying in my lane.  Minnesota Aurora is a community-owned and women-led organization. As one of the men in the room, it’s my job to do more listening than talking. It is not my role to take up space – that is a space for our female directors and board members and community owners to fill. I’ve learned a lot by being a spectator.

You cannot be what you cannot see. As the father of a young daughter, I know it is vital for our society to elevate and support female leaders. Little girls need to know their dreams are possible, and that will only happen if they can see those dreams playing out in front of them. However, I think it is just as important for our sons to see this, too. I want my son to not only grow up watching strong women playing a grueling sport, but see a community celebrate their efforts and accomplishments with just as much enthusiasm as any men’s team. That is a powerful visual that, it’s my hope, will have a lasting impact on them both. Sports has the power to bring people together around a cause greater than themselves. It’s why seeing six- to seven-thousand screaming fans with women’s names on their backs is so incredible. Sports is not just about sports. For me, it never has been. And as I continue this unexpected path with the Aurora, I think that will never change.