Entrepreneur duo uses KC Current blueprint to acquire Danish football, build multi-club portfolio

A just-announced deal to purchase a premier women’s football club in Denmark reflects Angie and Chris Long’s unwavering commitment to investing in women’s soccer at the highest level, the couple said, noting they’ll continue their work to raise the bar for players, supporters, and communities both nationally and internationally.

Ballard Capital, a sports entertainment-focused investment company controlled and owned by the Longs — principal owners of Kansas City Current — has signed an agreement to purchase HB Køge Women. The football club plays in the Kvindeliga, which is the highest division of Danish women’s football and has a storied history as a top club in Denmark prioritizing investment in women’s football, according to the Longs.

“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to partner with HB Køge Women, the supporters, and, of course, the broader community,” the duo said Tuesday in a press release. “We are incredibly proud of everything the Kansas City Current has built, and we look forward to using that blueprint and working closely with key partners in Denmark to further elevate HB Køge Women and the region. Our goal is to win Danish League championships while competing successfully at the highest levels within the global football ecosystem.”

The Longs, who also lead Palmer Square Capital Management, were the drivers of creating a home for the KC Current in Kansas City — realized with the construction of CPKC Stadium, the first such sports arena purpose-built for women, as well as the in-the-works, billion-dollar development at the nearby Berkley Riverfront. They were honored as UMKC’s Kansas City Entrepreneurs of the Year in 2023 and were named to the Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City Business Hall of Fame in 2023.

Purchasing HB Køge Women represents another historic investment by the Longs as the Longs had to first work collaboratively with the seller to separate the men’s and women’s teams so the Longs could solely purchase the women’s team. This deal also represents one of the most significant women’s sports transactions in Denmark history.

“We’re not stopping here,” Chris Long told ESPN for a story published Tuesday that references the Longs building a “multi-club empire.”

For HB Køge Women, the next chapter is expected to be focused on returning to play at the highest level in Europe, boosted further by a significant investment by the Longs into building the preeminent women’s youth football academy in Scandinavia.

Located approximately 30 minutes south of Copenhagen in Køge, HB Køge plays in the Kvindeliga, the highest level of women’s football in Denmark organized by the Danish Football Association (DBU). HB Køge was founded through the merger of historic clubs Køge Boldklub and Herfølge Boldklub in 2009. HB Køge won the Kvindeliga, the highest division of women’s football in Denmark, three straight seasons in 2021, 2022, and 2023. HB Køge also competed in the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

“We are incredibly appreciative to George Altirs and his team at Capelli Sport for their prior stewardship of the club, their significant investment, and the opportunity we now have to lead this premier women’s club into the future,” the Longs said. “We look forward to continuing the close partnership with Capelli Sport as the preferred kit and athleticwear partner of HB Køge Women.”