Meet The New Boss. Same as The Old Boss?
If you read my previous article (which you can find here), than you know I am a Houston Dynamo fan. For years, Houston fans have pleaded with the soccer Gods to grant the Dynamo a new owner, effectively pulling the club from the death grip of the Brener ownership group. Wouldn’t you know it, this year they finally listened. For months, there were rumors of a potential sale to a man named Ted Segal. If you were to search the internet for Ted Segal prior to June 23rd, you would find very little – in fact, all you’d find is a photo of a man who is not in fact our Ted Segal and who, quite frankly, looked like he excelled in academics rather than sports. This photo was of the anti-owner - the type of owner we had seen before and who the Dynamo faithful wanted no part of. Few had any idea who this man was or what he was about, other than the fact that he had made his money in New York real estate. Last Wednesday, we got a glimpse of the actual new majority owner and chairman of the Houston Dynamo. I was quite pleased with Segal’s appearance, not to mention the fact that he’s a New Jersey native like myself (although I doubt we attended the same house parties growing up).
So the new owner is here, in all his glory, right on my television screen. Flanked by MLS commissioner Don Garber and NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird, Segal had his hair slicked back just right, his skin tan enough to indicate he can swing a nine iron and a physique that screamed, “I like to swim”; and yet, he hadn’t said a word. During the opening minutes of his introduction, Segal sat still, awaiting his turn to speak. When it came, his mouth parted and sounds that formed words we as Dynamo fans could understand began to grace our ears. What Dynamo fans heard was, as Victor Araiza of The Striker said, “… the same things [as the] previous ownership, and they failed to …follow through”. Araiza followed that statement with this question: “do you (Segal) even care about making Houston the number one choice for soccer in the city of Houston?” With that, we all got a glimpse of who this man is. Though Segal had been given relatively easy questions from the media, Araiza is an actual Dynamo supporter who happens to be a reputable local journalist. Segal’s response was pretty much what you would expect from a new owner, however he went a little beyond Victor’s question in stating his desire to become the top team in MLS.
“What Dynamo fans heard was, as Victor Araiza of The Striker said, ‘… the same things [as the] previous ownership, and they failed to …follow through’.”
Throughout his opening remarks, Houston’s new majority owner used specific buzz words, such as “resources”, “community” and a phrase Dynamo supporters knew to be true; “Houston is a world-class city”. The Dynamo are a sleeping giant, a fact that was recognized by both Segal and Garber. However, as Araiza pointed out, Segal said all the right things, just like Houston’s previous majority owner Gabriel Brener did. We as Dynamo fans are done listening to words - we want to see action.
To his credit, Segal has already begun to make moves and provide resources to the club and city already. On his first day, Segal rather conveniently announced that Houston had re-signed CB Tim Parker to a new three-year deal (making him a Designated Player), signed Zimbabwean CB Teenage Hadebe from Malatyaspor in Turkey, made multiple donations to various Houston charities (each exceeding $100,000), hired a new CEO in Jamey Rootes and that he had joined the committee working to make Houston a World Cup host city in 2026.
While Segal’s moves on his first day are all well and good, Houston supporters want wins, ownership involvement and quality signings. I cringed as I watched videos of Austin FC minority owner Matthew McConaughey banging a drum in front of Austin FC supporters, but in my head, I thought, “I want an owner like THAT.” Sure enough, on his first weekend as majority owner, Ted frickin’ Segal was in attendance at BBVA Stadium as the Houston Dynamo took on the Portland Timbers at home. Segal was in box suite 105, just below my season ticket seats in the 200-section, eating a snack and drinking a beverage. Was this enough for me? Not really - I would have liked to hear Segal say a few words, I would have liked to see Segal in the supporters’ section, but he was still HERE. I had never seen Brener, James Harden, Oscar de la Hoya or anyone else from the previous ownership group in attendance at a home match in the four years I’ve been attending: not once, not ever.
“While Segal’s moves on his first day are all well and good, Houston supporters want wins, ownership involvement and quality signings.”
Have the prayers of Dynamo fans been answered? Maybe. Are we excited? Definitely. Is the present and future of the Houston Dynamo brighter today than it was on June 22nd? In the words of Stone-Cold Steve Austin, HELL YEAH. The sleeping soccer giant in Houston, Texas is beginning to murmur and Houston supporters hope Segal is the man that can wake it up.
Hopefully, we don’t get fooled again.
Finnister is the host of the Houston Dyna Pod podcast
