Footwear News’ Post

Angel City FC gets a record-breaking valuation It’s always great to see a sports team owned by its fans, but this isn’t like the Green Bay Packers. Hollywood power couple and OG Angel City FC fans, TV journalist Willow Bay and her husband, Disney CEO Bob Iger, finalized a deal to buy the LA-based women’s soccer team. The sale values the club at $250 million, making it the most valuable women’s sports team in the world. Some details of the agreement: Bay and Iger will invest $50 million and take controlling ownership from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Bay will lead the board and represent ACFC on the National Women’s Soccer League’s Board of Governors. All existing owners—a group that reads like the invite list to Oprah’s birthday party—will continue to be involved, including Natalie Portman (a co-founder), Billie Jean King, and former USWNT players such as Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm. Show me the money: Bay predicts that ACFC can ride growing interest and investment in women’s sports to a $1 billion valuation in the “modestly near term.” The team generated $33 million in revenue last year, the most of any women’s sports team in the world (according to the team), and was No. 1 in NWSL attendance and sponsorship revenue. But it’s not without its devils…the team ranks 11th out of 14 teams this season and has been dogged by reports of infighting.

Bay FC is playing its first game on Sunday at 4:30pm PT against Angel City Football Club in front of what will be a sold-out crowd of more than 22,000 fans in Los Angeles.   A month ago, the club set the record for an international transfer fee in women’s football, while building a roster that puts the world’s best international players side-by-side with the next generation of American soccer stars.   It will be just four months since the team signed its first player. Five months since the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced its landmark and record-breaking $240 million media rights deal.   Six months since Albertin Montoya was hired as Head Coach to lead the team on the field with a vision to play a completely different style of football than the U.S. game is accustomed to.     Nine months since Lucy Rushton joined as General Manager to build Bay FC’s world-class sporting team and operational capabilities.   Ten months since recruiting Brady Stewart and Jen Millet as CEO and COO, respectively, to raise the bar and demonstrate what a professional women’s sports franchise can be on the business side.    Eleven months since we assembled an incredible board that includes five-time NBA champion Rick Welts, world-class business executive Sheryl Sandberg, sports marketing leader Staci Slaughter, and visionary venture capitalist Sean Mendy of Westbound Equity Partners.   Twelve months since we at Sixth Street made our record-setting investment in the club, the largest ever in a women’s professional sports franchise.   And only twenty months since we first met Aly Wagner, Leslie Osborne Lewis, Danielle Slaton, and Brandi Chastain to discuss the idea of bringing professional women’s soccer to the Bay Area.   Sports is about community, and the effort by everyone who has touched this club in its young life has been extraordinary. The Bay FC fanbase has already shown up in force and with such passion and energy before the club has even played a game.    Sunday will be a moment, but this team is leading a movement and building a generational pillar for the Bay and for global sports. And for Sixth Street, we are a firm of firsts. When the game starts on Sunday, we are going to reflect on the fact that we’re the first institutional investment firm to have built a pro sports franchise from the ground up. Everyone involved should take immense pride in that. That’s only been possible because of the One Team culture that’s core to who we are at Sixth Street, and that’s being built and instilled at Bay FC. You can’t be creative, you can’t be bold, you can’t get big things done unless everyone is working together and as a team. Many more firsts to come.

🚨 Important News in the World of Sports 🚨 Bob Iger and Willow Bay have acquired Angel City FC, marking a significant milestone in the women’s football industry. This agreement for the Los Angeles-based Football Club represents the highest valuation ever for a professional women’s team, highlighting the growing popularity and impact of women’s sports globally. ACFC become the world's most valuable women's professional sports team. This acquisition not only reinforces the commitment to the growth of the sport but also opens new opportunities for the development and visibility of women’s football. It is a testament to the power and potential of women’s sports and a step forward towards the equality and recognition that female athletes deserve. Moreover, this move consolidates the concept of #Sportainment, where sports and entertainment merge to create unique and engaging experiences for fans. Bob Iger and Willow Bay, known for their leadership at The Walt Disney Company, bring a wealth of experience and vision that promises to transform the landscape of women’s football. 🔗 Read more about this news here: https://lnkd.in/et-wz_3m #WomensFootball #Sports #Investments #Leadership #Equality #Sportainment

⚽️[Sports Biz News]🇺🇸 Record valuation of $250 million for a women's professional sports team 🚀 Angel City Football Club (ACFC) has reached a definitive agreement with Willow Bay, Dean of USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, making them the new controlling owners. This transaction brings new growth and innovation opportunities for ACFC. ACFC announced that Bay and Iger will acquire the controlling stake in the club at an enterprise value of $250 million, marking the highest valuation ever for a women's professional sports team. Willow Bay will serve on and have full control of the ACFC Board of Directors and will represent ACFC on the NWSL’s Board of Governors. Bay and Iger will invest an additional $50 million to support the club’s future growth. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of NWSL, marks a historic development for the business of women's sports and the beginning of a new era for ACFC. The transaction was unanimously approved by ACFC’s Board of Directors and is expected to close in the next 30-60 days. In a collective statement, the ACFC Board of Directors said: “Willow and Bob bring unparalleled operational experience, expertise, and passion to ACFC and to the NWSL. They’re lifelong sports fans who have been supporters of ACFC since the team’s founding. They are deeply committed to the Los Angeles community and have a long track record of dedicating their time and resources to support local organizations. We know they are the right partners to lead us into this new era.” Bay said, “As fans and friends of ACFC, we are thrilled to join this team as owners at this historic moment in sports. ACFC and these incredible athletes have already had a tremendous impact on the NWSL, women’s soccer, and the Los Angeles community. With this investment of resources and capital, we hope to accelerate the growth of the club and the NWSL.” #glocalsportsnews #sportsmarketing #sportsnews #sportsbusiness #marketing #branding #pr #brandingstrategy #marketingstrategy #prstrategy #businessstrategy #advertising #investment #investmentstrategy #womenssports #america #soccer #womenssoccer #owner #soccerfan #acfc #nws

National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) clubs were selling for under $5m less than five years ago. There's been a massive step up in valuations recently, with Angel City now selling for 3x more than the previous record sale price. This is another significant validation of investment in women's sports. - 2019: $3.5 mil for Seattle Reign - 2020: $2-5 mil for round of expansion fees - 2022: $35 mil for Washington Spirit; $40 mil for NY Gotham - 2023: $50 mil franchise fees for Bay FC/ Boston NWSL; $35.5 mil for Chicago Red Stars - 2024: $63 mil sale for Portland Thorns - 2024: $113 mil sale for San Diego Wave - 2024: $300 mil valuation on the sale of Angel City FC

More on professional sports teams and private equity. The value of professional sports teams is growing faster than standard benchmarks like the S&P 500, so it’s hardly surprising that private equity is interested in the sector. Whether it can continue this kind of growth is another matter. #privatequity #sports

Great Forbes article delving into the wealthiest sports team owners in the U.S. for 2024. It highlights the undeniable rise of the sports industry as one of the fastest-growing sectors in entertainment and media, further reinforcing what I’ve long believed about its powerful impact and influence.

Great Forbes article delving into the wealthiest sports team owners in the U.S. for 2024. It highlights the undeniable rise of the sports industry as one of the fastest-growing sectors in entertainment and media, further reinforcing what I’ve long believed about its powerful impact and influence.

Invest in women! $$$