Charlie Wright was charged with the team’s transition after its acquisition by KSE.  He then served as Chief Operating Officer of the franchise for 2004 and 2005. He represented the Rapids on the Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing Board of Governors during that time period, including serving on the Finance Committee and the Competition Committee. He helped lead the club to the Western Conference Championship match in 2005 and 2006. He took the reins as General Manager of the club after the 2004 season. Wright is now serving as the Vice president, Finance for both the Rapids and Dick Sporting Good’s Park and is responsible for budgeting and financial reporting and compliance for all of the KSE entities operating in Commerce City.

 

Aside from his soccer experience, Wright has a wealth of financial management and merger and acquisition experience, particularly with respect to sports franchises and arenas. He is currently the CFO of The Kroenke Group, a holding company that includes ownership of several Colorado sports franchises, cultural and entertainment activities, and several real estate holdings.

 

Wright has also served on the National Lacrosse League Board of Governors for the Colorado Mammoth as Chairman of the NLL Finance Committee and executive committee. Previously, he spent over 20 years as an outside professional financial advisor, including over 14 years as a partner with Ernst & Young.

 

Wright has worked with hundreds of clients in his career. Non-confidential client assignments in the sorts and entertainment industry have included clients that purchased the Montreal Canadians, Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver (currently Memphis) Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards and three of the facilities used by those teams. Wright is also a shareholder and officer of an indoor soccer franchise playing in the NISL.

 

He is a frequent speaker on mergers & acquisitions and sports industry subjects. He has written over 20 articles for professional publications on a wide range of topics. Wright holds several professional certifications (CPA, CMA, CIRA, CMC) and belongs to a number of professional organizations. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Duke University and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University, where he received the Faculty Award for Distinguished Achievement. He has also served on the Board of Trustees of several charitable organizations, and is currently on the Boards of the Mile High United Way and the Colorado Rapids Community Care Foundation. Wright also performs locally as a percussionist with the Denver Pops Orchestra.

Rapids Spotlight