Angel City FC, a new Los Angeles-based National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) franchise that will begin competing in 2022, will play its home games at Banc of California Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer team Los Angeles FC (LAFC).
Details of ACFC were first revealed in July and the franchise has a high-profile ownership group that includes actresses Natalie Portman, Jessica Chastain, Uzo Aduba, America Farrera, Jennifer Garner, Sophia Bush and Eva Longoria, as well as tennis star Serena Williams and her husband, tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist Alexis Ohanian, who founded Reddit.
The news of ACFC’s home stadium was announced today (Thursday) and will be marked with a four-hour gift card drive to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood.
Banc of California Stadium opened in 2018 to coincide with LAFC’s inaugural season in MLS. The stadium has a capacity of 22,000 and was built at a cost of $350m (£265m/€296m).
According to the Los Angeles Times newspaper, ACFC considered sharing Dignity Health Sports Park with Los Angeles’ other MLS franchise, LA Galaxy, before deciding on LAFC’s Banc of California Stadium.
“Announcing our venue partner is a major milestone for Angel City, and we could not be more excited than to play in this spectacular venue right here in the heart of Los Angeles,” ACFC founder and president Julie Uhrman said. “We are building a club for all Los Angelenos, united in their support of women’s soccer and the magic that LA brings to its fans, players, and teams.”
LAFC co-president Larry Freedman added: “From the beginning, we set out to build a club where everyone was welcome – a club that would strive to unite the world’s city through the world’s game. We are thrilled to welcome our new partners, Angel City FC, to our family, to our home, and to their new home. We look forward to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with ACFC to create great experiences here in the Heart of Los Angeles.”
ACFC’s ownership group also features technology venture capitalist Kara Nortman, former tennis players Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, actor and TV presenter James Corden, late-night host Lilly Singh, popstar Becky G and 14 former US women’s national team players, including Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach, among others.
Image: BagmanTheEditor/CC BY-SA 4.0/Edited for size
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