The Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has acquired operating rights to MLS’s MetroStars from John Kluge and Stuart Subotnick, who have served as the New Jersey team’s investor-operators since 1995, a year before the league’s inaugural season. Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz, one of the league’s six original operator-investors, now operates five of the 12 MLS teams. He has been the operator-investor of the Colorado Rapids since the league began play and has steadily increased his stake in MLS. For the 1998 season, he exercised his rights to an expansion team in Chicago, which won MLS Cup ’98. A few days before the final, he acquired the Los Angeles Galaxy for a reported price of $26 million. Earlier this year, AEG took control of D.C. United, whose ownership group had been torn apart by internal disputes. Terms of the MetroStars transaction were not disclosed. According to MLS commissioner Don Garber, the transaction does not include rights to a second team in New York that Kluge and Subotnick had purchased during the league’s start-up. The rights to that team revert back to MLS. “AEG is committed to Major League Soccer and soccer in the United States,” said AEG President Timothy Leiweke. “Clearly, New York/New Jersey is the most important and largest marketplace for our league and the resources AEG will bring to this organization will not only strengthen the team, but will have a very positive effect on the entire league. ôNow with teams in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Colorado and Washington D.C., we believe that we will continue to be leaders within MLS and play a significant role in the growth of the league.” Kevin Payne, senior vice president of AEG Soccer, said: “As part of our commitment to the fans in the New York/New Jersey area, we will continue the groundwork underway with the office of the Governor of New Jersey, the leadership of Hudson County and the town of Harrison to build a showplace stadium for soccer. We believe that this stadium project is critical to the successful operation of the franchise and soccer’s existence in the region.” AEG’s worldwide holdings include ownership of Hammarby Soccer, winners of the Swedish soccer title for the first time in 104 years. A wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation, AEG owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, the London Arena, The Forum (as exclusive booking agent for sports and entertainment programming), HealthSouth Training Center and the Kodak Theater (as operator); sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), the Manchester Monarchs (AHL), Redding Royals (ECHL), six hockey franchises and Hammarby Soccer operated in Europe and portions of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) (as representatives of Mr. Anschutz’s interest); Envision, a naming rights and sponsorship company; Spring Communications, devoted to creation and marketing of live events for pay-per-view and other electronic media; AEG Marketing & Creative Services, a full-service marketing and advertising agency; Concerts West and Golden Voice, live entertainment promotion and touring companies.