[3] After careers as an award-winning radio journalist in New York City and as a senior resort marketing and special events executive in Vail, CO, Payne became the national administrator of the United States Soccer Federation in 1989.
This sports marketing agency staged more than 60 U.S. national team matches, including the 1992 and 1993 U.S. Cups, and developed more than $35 million in sponsorships for U.S. Soccer and U.S.
In the fall of 1994, Payne, as president of SUSAP, began to work with Alan Rothenberg and a charter group of investors on the creation of Major League Soccer (MLS).
Payne put together the original investment group for D.C. United, which included George Soros, Paul Tierney and The Sponsorship Group/API and served as the president and general manager of the team from its inception.
In 2001, Payne joined Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) as senior vice president and managing director of AEG Soccer, which, during his tenure, oversaw six MLS teams, including the Los Angeles Galaxy, Colorado Rapids, Chicago Fire, D.C. United, MetroStars and San Jose Earthquakes.