Former U.S. Soccer star Jozy Altidore is joining forces with NBA legend Russell Westbrook and financial firm Echo to invest in a $1 billion entertainment district in Oklahoma City, which will include a new soccer team set to launch in 2028. This ambitious project aims to revitalize the city's sports scene and create a vibrant mixed-use development.
Altidore, a three-time World Cup participant and the third-highest goal scorer in U.S. men's soccer history, is bringing his expertise in youth development and player recruitment to the table. He and his business partner, Alex Lee, are joining Westbrook, who played 11 seasons for the Oklahoma City Thunder and won the 2017 NBA MVP award, in this exciting venture.
The project's cap table is headed by Echo, with founding partner and CEO Christian Kanady, a fifth-generation Okie, at the helm. Kanady believes this development will transform Oklahoma City into a sports hub, clustering college football, the NBA, and a new soccer team in the downtown area.
The new soccer team will play in a state-of-the-art stadium with over 10,000 seats, meeting MLS standards, and will receive $121 million in public funding. This stadium will be the centerpiece of a $1 billion mixed-use development, featuring retail, hospitality, a music campus, and public green spaces, just two blocks from the Thunder's arena.
Westbrook, who invested in the project in 2024, sees this as a way to bring his love for soccer to his hometown. Other investors include the Chickasaw Nation Tribe and Nick Gross, son of bond king Bill Gross. Oklahoma City is experiencing rapid growth and is now the 20th most populous city in the U.S., making it an ideal location for this ambitious sports and entertainment project.
Altidore's off-field ventures include investments in NFL's Buffalo Bills, TGL/TMRW Sports, SailGP, and NWSL's Bay FC. His latest venture with Echo and Westbrook showcases his commitment to expanding his influence in the sports industry and creating a lasting impact in Oklahoma City.
