NWSL's Angel City FC Valuation & Purchase Updates

Taylor Vincent
Taylor Vincent, Resident NWSL ExpertJuly 17, 2024
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Today Angel City Football Club announced officially what was originally rumored two weeks ago, that Willow Bay and Bob Iger were close to purchasing control in the club. The transaction is still awaiting closing conditions, and approval by the NWSL Board of Directors, but the deal valued Angel City as the most valuable women’s sports team in the world with an enterprise value of $250 million.

RELATED: Current Angel City FC Roster

Last year, a Sportico valuation of the NWSL teams had Angel City at the top of the table worth $180 million with a $31 million revenue for 2023. Most recently, the Seattle Reign were sold for $58 million earlier this year and it was reported that the San Diego Wave were being sold in a phased approach for a total of $113 million.

In early July the pitch deck which Bay and Iger used to present to the ACFC Board of Directors was leaked by Semafor with the original story, which did include a new practice facility as an opportunity for growth. Since joining the league in 2022, Angel City has been practicing at Cal Lutheran's Thousand Oaks campus??, which is about a 50 mile drive from BMO Stadium—where ACFC plays its home matches. Originally it was announced that ACFC would only spend two seasons at Cal Lutheran and the club has extended the deal likely until a more permanent practice facility can be built.

Source: https://www.semafor.com/article/07/02/2024/disney-ceo-bob-iger-and-willow-bay-to-by-soccer-team

As a part of the purchasing agreement for the team, Bay and Iger will invest $50 million to support the Club’s future growth. Bay will also serve on and have full control of the ACFC Board of Directors as well as be the team representative on the NWSL Board of Governors. The sale was unanimously approved by the ACFC Board of Directors, and is hoping to close in the next 30-60 days.

Bay stated in a team press release, “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. Working with the team and Board, and the incredible community of ACFC fans, we are committed to advancing the Club’s mission of driving equity on and off the field.

Angel City currently sits 11th in the NWSL standings table, and has really struggled in the first half of the season, with only four wins and three draws in their 16 matches. They currently sit only three points below the playoff line of eighth place.


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