Birmingham Legion FC announced today a new investor has joined its ownership group— NBA Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins.

Nicknamed the “Human Highlight Film,” Wilkins made the announcement on ESPN’s First Take, a nationally televised morning sports talk show.

Why Birmingham?

When asked by First Take’s Stephen A. Smith why he is investing in a team from Birmingham, Wilkins described how soccer brings the community together.

“The ultimate goal is of course to win, but it is also about building those bridges at the birthplace of civil rights and to continue to bring the community together. Soccer is a sport everybody plays. So it is a great opportunity, not only to be part of a soccer team, but to build those relationships.”
New Birmingham Legion Investor Dominique Wilkins on ESPN’s First Take

The KultureCity Connection

Presently Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Atlanta Hawks, Wilkins has developed deep ties with Birmingham through his work as Board Chairman of Birmingham-based KultureCity, a nonprofit advocating for acceptance of individuals with “invisible disabilities.”

The nonprofit works with an assortment of celebrities, including musical acts Jason Isbell and Grouplove, actor Randall Park and comedian Ken Jeong.

KultureCity currently has a sensory room at Legion’s matches in Protective Stadium and the Club is excited to grow that relationship by including the nonprofit on regular season jerseys to launch this July.

Team Growth

Wilkins’ investment underscores the growth of Legion FC and the club’s recent spotlight on the national stage. Earlier this month, the team played in front of a record crowd of 18,418 fans during a match against David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF during the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup.

“Legion FC exists to improve Birmingham through the game of soccer. We are passionate about growing soccer in this community and being a source of pride for our city. It’s been amazing to see the crowds grow at our games—fans that have been here since day one and fans discovering Legion for the first time. We’re excited to continue that growth with Dominique helping discover new ways to create impact.”
Legion FC President Jay Heaps

Want to welcome one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history and new Legion FC investor? The Three Sparks return to Protective Stadium on Wednesday, June 21 at 7PM against Loudoun United.

BONUS: Legion WFC takes on South Carolina Bantams Women’s Football Club at 3:30PM. Tickets are available at bhmlegion.com .