User:Woso10/Arnim Whisler

Arnim Whisler is a former owner of the Chicago Red Stars. As a result of the 2021 NWSL scandals - which made public his mismanagement of the team - he sold the team.

Biography Apart from Red Stars Ownership
Whisler graduated from Purdue University in 1985 after studying computer science, industrial management, Russian, and biology. He also has an MBA in finance and international business from the University of Chicago.

He worked at Accenture for twenty years. He currently owns Sisyphus Group, Exquisite Homes, and Exquisite and Rare, Exquisite Designs.

Whisler listed the following on his Twitter bio: "... real estate, antiques, designer, artist, poet, father, husband, promoter, voter...".

WPS 2009-2010
In December 2006, the Women's Soccer Initiative announced that six groups had signed a letter of intent and made a financial commitment for teams in the league that woud become the WPS. Women's Great Lakes Soccer Initiative - which would become the Chicago Red Stars - was one of the groups. Arnim Whisler was one of over a dozen shareholders during the Red Stars' two seasons in the WPS. He, along with Gary Weaver, Jim Willett, and Peter Wilt were also the management group for the team. In a letter from 2018, Whisler stated that in 2007 he became the sixth of seven founding Red Stars' owners.

WPSL 2011
After it was announced that the Red Stars would suspend operations and not play in the 2011 WPS season, it was later announced that the team would play in the WPSL in 2011. Articles announcing the team joining the WPSL convyed Whisler as a co-owner of the team.

WPSL Elite 2012
After the WPS permanately suspended operations, the WPSL Elite was formed as the highest level of women's soccer in the U.S. The league consisted of eight teams, three of which (including the Red Stars) were former WPS teams. In a 2018 letter, Whisler stated that "by 2012 I was all alone" which infers that this was the year that Whisler became the sole owner of the Red Stars.

NWSL 2013-2023
In June 2012, the league that would become the NWSL was announced with play starting in 2013. The Red Stars were one of four former WPS teams announced as anticipated teams in the league.