Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1503133
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 18 UCW JULY 5 - 11, 2023 e Fayetteville Fury has a new owner: Phillip Lin aims to cultivate community and a love for soccer in Fayetteville Fayetteville's newest professional sports team, the Fayetteville Fury soc- cer team, has played two full seasons, and is now preparing for its third. e Fayetteville Fury was officially announced on June 7, 2021, as the second franchise in the National In- door Soccer League. When Lin joined as a minority owner in June 2021, the Fayetteville Fury team had four owners. In March 2023, Lin decided to buy out the re- maining owners' shares, thus making him the primary shareholder of the soccer team. When asked, "Why Fayetteville?," Phillip responded, "At the time I was looking to get into sports ownership and picked Fayetteville because I felt connected to this city and its strong ties to the military community. As a successful serial entrepreneur, I felt it was time for me to give back to the community. I believed Fayetteville had a need for community and to have more sports entertainment. I re- ally felt a warmness from the commu- nity, and they have embraced me and the entire team." It was Lin's passion for sports and community that motivated him to continue building and investing in Fayetteville sports entertainment. "I feel people get connected through sports. Since COVID, people have lost human connection and I feel sports brings communities together with a common goal and interest." "My favorite thing about attending the games is the energy of the fans, seeing how happy they are, and how they don't take their eyes away from the game. ey are engaged the entire time and it's a bond for the commu- nity as they are cheering together." As a self-identified serial entrepre- neur, Lin owns multiple businesses, e Howdy Triangle in Cary, Catering by Design in Raleigh, and three sports teams: Fayetteville Chutes, Oak City Gliders, and now Fayetteville Fury. Lin is also a published author of "One Bad Asian," an autobiography detailing his life as an immigrant whose Taiwanese family moves to the United States to achieve the American dream. He details his struggles as an immigrant, working three jobs, his journey through entrepreneurship, and how he navigated obstacles in life. Not only has Lin continued to grow and invest into the Fayetteville team, but he has reorganized the leadership and structure. e new organizational structure for the Fury includes Owner Phil- lip Lin; General Manager and Men's Head Coach Al Florez; Assistant General Manager Dustin Lee; Com- munity Relations Director Ashley Blake; Merchandise Director Terri Sue Maynor-Guevara; Marketing Partners 219 Group; Account Exec Brandon Rodriguez; Women's Head Coach is to be announced at a later date; Assistant Coach Miguel Sanchez; Fan Engage- ment & Inclusion Director Ali Aroste- gui; and the Operations Director will be announced soon. e team will host 12 regular season home games at the Crown Center when the season starts in January 2024. Each game-night will feature a Men's and Women's Doubleheader. During the off-season the Fury soccer team is busy with community outreach, hosting tryouts, youth soc- cer camps, and soccer tournaments. e team even added their very own dragon mascot, Furyous, who loves engaging with fans. e Fayetteville Fury is a profession- al indoor soccer team dedicated to the community, personal development of the players, and to the growth of soccer among the youth by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in the sport. For more information visit www.fayette- villefury.com/ Fury announces new owner by AUDREY HASSLOCHER Phillip Lin is the new owner of the Fayetteville Fury soccer team. SPORTS AUDREY HASSLOCHER, Contributor, Freebird Communications. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com 910-484-6200.