A key architect of the D.C. United team that dominated the early seasons of Major League Soccer.
Payne was president and general manager of D.C. United for 15 seasons, 1996 through 2001 and again 2004 through 2012, bringing to the club stars such as Hall of Famers John Harkes, Jaime Moreno, Eddie Pope and Earnie Stewart. He was president of Toronto FC of MLS in the 2013 season, and from 2001 through 2004 was an executive of Anshutz Entertainment Group, which owned several MLS franchises. He won the USSF’s Werner Fricker Builder Award in 2011.
Under his leadership, D.C. United won the MLS championship in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004; won the U.S. Open Cup in 1996 and 2008, and hosted the MLS championship game in 1997, 2000 and 2007.
