CHICAGO – Sterling Bay, the Chicago-based real-estate developer and investor which last November purchased a United Soccer League expansion club, announced today that Chicago Cubs owner and Chairman, Tom Ricketts, would take majority ownership of the team headed to Chicago through Sterling Bay’s planned state-of-the-art soccer stadium development at their Lincoln Yards site.

The Ricketts family, led by Tom, purchased the Chicago Cubs in January, 2009, and since then the organization has undergone remarkable success that culminated with the organization’s first World Series victory in more than 100 years in 2016. Since the purchase, the organization has also overseen major renovations to Wrigley Field, the Cubs’ historic venue on the north side of Chicago, located just over two miles north of the Lincoln Yards site.

In addition to his role with the Cubs, Ricketts serves as a director of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation alongside fellow family members J. Joseph Ricketts and J. Peter Ricketts. He is also the co-founder and serves as chairman and CEO of Incapital LLC.

“It speaks volumes about the growth of the USL when you continue to see interest and investment from proven sports business executives like Tom Ricketts,” said USL CEO Alec Papadakis. “Over the last several years, we have assembled one of the most sophisticated and knowledgeable ownership groups in professional sports, drawn by our focus on building a sustainable, stable and professional organization with significant room for future growth. We welcome Tom and the entire Ricketts family to the USL. They bring a proven record of success to the team, and combined with the excellent folks at Sterling Bay, we look forward to their contributions to the future of professional soccer in Chicago.”