Mr. E. Stanley Kroenke was officially introduced as the owner of the Colorado Rapids on September 23, 2003 and has been a top proponent of soccer in the state of Colorado and the United States ever since.

 

On April 7, 2007, Kroenke Sports Enterprises, Mr. Kroenke’s Denver-based company, opened the largest soccer-specific complex in the world, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. This state-of-the-art sports facility sits on more than 160 acres in Commerce City, Colo. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park features a stadium capable of seating 18,000 fans for field sports and up to 27,000 people for concerts. The complex also includes 24 surrounding fully-lit playing fields for youth and adult sports.

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park anchors the 917-acre Prairie Gateway site that is a public-private partnership between Kroenke Sports Enterprises and Commerce City. The site also hosts the new Commerce City municipal hall, retail facilities, offices for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and a new visitors’ and educational center for the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge, among other entities. The project has created several hundred jobs for the community.

 

Under Mr. Kroenke’s leadership, KSE and the Rapids formed an important marketing and strategic partnership with the legendary Arsenal Football Club of England’s Barclay’s Premier League. He also purchased an approximate 12% stake in Arsenal FC.

 

One of the most respected owners in professional sports, his commitment to excellence has been obvious inside and outside of Pepsi Center since his arrival. Substantial amounts have been invested in improvements and additional attractions to enhance the entertainment experience for every visitor to the property.

 

Kroenke Sports Enterprises also owns the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, the National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth, and a one-third interest in the Arena Football League’s Colorado Crush. His teams have hosted the 2001 NHL All-Star Game, the 2004 NLL All-Star Game, the 2005 NBA All-Star Game and the 2007 MLS All-Star Game, showcasing some of the world’s finest athletes.

 

This summer, the world will be watching as the National Democrats have chosen Pepsi Center and Denver as their site for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The high-profile political gathering will take place at Pepsi Center from August 25-28, 2008 - 100 years after the city hosted its first and only other national party convention. More than 35,000 delegates, journalists, volunteers and others are expected to visit the Pepsi Center and city as part of the convention. Business leaders are estimating the potential economic impact to be more than $160 million for the city and state.

 

Under Mr. Kroenke’s direction, KSE launched two of the company’s most ambitious projects to date. In September, 2004, Altitude Sports & Entertainment, a 24-hour regional television network began operation, becoming the new television home for the Avalanche, Nuggets, Mammoth and Rapids. Altitude also features other professional, collegiate and high school sporting events, as well as outdoors and lifestyle programming, entertainment and community interest coverage from throughout the Rockies.

 

In July 2002, Kroenke Sports Enterprises purchased the Paramount Theatre, a historic landmark in downtown Denver.

 

Mr. Kroenke’s enthusiasm and vision ensure that Denver will continue to be the top entertainment destination in the Rocky Mountain region for generations to come. The Rocky Mountain News named Mr. Kroenke one of the most significant people in the Denver arts and entertainment community, saying “No other person entertains more people more often.”

 

One of KSE’s main focuses has always been its charitable efforts and the Colorado community. More than $15 million in contributions have been made to Colorado charities through Kroenke Sports Charities and the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche Community Funds.

 

KSE’s dedication to success has been clearly evident by the consistent playoff runs of its teams. The Avalanche is a perennial playoff team and defeated the New Jersey Devils in June 2001 to win the Stanley Cup, the second in franchise history, and has won a record nine consecutive division titles.

The Nuggets have returned to prominence with a remarkable turnaround and are one of the few NBA teams to have made four consecutive playoff appearances. The Crush were crowned champion of the Arena Football League in 2005, and the Mammoth – which have made the playoffs in each of its five seasons – won the 2006 NLL championship.

 

Mr. Kroenke is also vice chairman and co-owner of the 2000 Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams. A native Missourian, his emergence as an owner of the Rams was critical in the effort to return professional football to St. Louis in 1995.

 

Mr. Kroenke is chairman and owner of The Kroenke Group and THF reality, a private real estate investment and development company with properties located throughout the United States and Canada. Over the past three decades, he has built a reputation as one of the nation’s leading real estate developers.

 

Mr. Kroenke’s current and former board and trustee memberships include Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Central Bank Holding Company, Boone County National Bank, Community Investments Partnership of St. Louis, the College of the Ozarks, and the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame. He is a member of St. Louis’ Civic Progress, which provides support and leadership for various community improvements that promote economic development, education and quality of life.

 

Mr. Kroenke holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Missouri. He and his wife, Ann, have a daughter, Whitney, and a son, Josh.