Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger and his wife attend the Willow Bay Allen Company Sun Valley Conference on July 11, 2024 in Sun Valley, Idaho.
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Liu Wanhe Bob Iger Will take control of Angel City Football Club, the world’s most valuable women’s professional sports team.
On Wednesday, the National Women’s Soccer League’s Angel City announced the couple had agreed invest The team is valued at an undisclosed amount of $250 million. The club said Bey and Egger will invest an additional $50 million in the club’s future development.
According to the NWSL bylaws, the controlling shareholder must own at least 35% of the team, which makes the purchase agreement between the two men worth at least $87.5 million. The team said Bey will serve on and have full control of the Angel City FC board of directors.
The sales situation is as follows: women’s sports and the NWSL’s ratings and attendance have exploded, attracting more and more viewers invest.
Last year, Angel City FC had the highest revenue of any women’s team in the world. It also ranks first in the NWSL in attendance and sponsorship revenue.
“We know they are the right partners to lead us into this new era – they are committed to further strengthening the ACFC’s position as the preeminent organization and brand in women’s sports and supporting the team’s broader mission, including promoting equity for athletes and women. -Start a business,” the ACFC board of directors said in a statement.
Claire Emslie #10 of Angel City FC during the first half against Bay FC at PayPal Park on June 22, 2024 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Akin Howard/Getty Images)
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Angel City FC was founded in 2020 by actress Natalie Portman, venture capitalist Carla Norman and entrepreneur Julie Ullman.
The ownership group also includes a long list of sports icons, including Billie Jean King, Abby Wambach, Lindsey Vonn and 13 former U.S. Women’s National Team players. The team prioritizes female ownership and equal pay for women.
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian was a controlling shareholder of the club.
The unique ownership structure creates financial and operational tensions, This was reportedly one of the motivations for the sale.
The club said on Wednesday that all existing owners would continue to maintain the new team structure.
Bey, a lifelong sports fan who serves as dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, said she is committed to furthering the club’s mission of advancing equity on and off the field.
“Through the investment of resources and capital, we hope to accelerate the growth of the club and the NWSL,” she said in a statement.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Julie Ullman’s name.
