Alexis Ohanian is a co-founder and lead investor of Angel City FC, which began playing in the NWSL this year … [+].
Alexis Ohanian will be the first to admit that he is not a die-hard soccer fan by any definition of the word. The Reddit co-founder played soccer for nine years growing up “because my parents wouldn’t let me play soccer until I was in high school.”
While wrapped up in the excitement of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Ohanian remarked to his wife Serena Williams how amazing it would be if one day their daughter Olympia could play on soccer’s biggest stage.
“Serena said without missing a beat, ‘Not until they pay her what she’s worth,'” Ohanian recalled.
As much of a realization as a challenge, Ohanian sought to change the narrative, not just for Olympia’s generation and beyond, but for the millions of girls and women past and present who have given their lives for the Dedicated to the game they love.
But at the same time, the Seven Seven Six founder, entrepreneur and venture capitalist also saw an opportunity, a flame in need of a spark.
Soccer, especially women’s soccer, was already embedded in the American sports psyche thanks to the continued success of the US Women’s National Team Brandi Chastain’s iconic celebration after scoring in the 1999 World Cup final Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan guide the USWNT to a record fourth World Cup title in 2019 despite the ongoing equal pay lawsuit against US Soccer.
Ohanian took to Twitter to share his support of the USWNT and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the national soccer league where many of the players played. Then came the comments.
Although not a “literal fucking billionaire,” Ohanian, whose net worth was estimated at $70 million by Forbes in 2019, put his money where his mouth was in July 2020 by joining the majority female-led ownership group of Angel City FC joins a new NWSL expansion side starting to play in 2022, alongside Natalie Portman, Julie Uhrman and Kara Nortman. Other early investors include: Julie Foudy, Uzo Aduba, Serena Williams, Jessica Chastain, Mia Hamm, America Ferrera, Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria.
“Women’s soccer, in particular, I believed was hugely under-resourced, under-marketed, under-valued, under-appreciated, supported, the list goes on,” says Ohanian, the Women’s Sports Foundation 2022 Champion For Equality Award recipient. “I saw it first and foremost as a tremendous business opportunity. My north star here is quite simply that this is something that was so obviously a good investment and I feel great that all the other things have come from it.
Angel City FC exceeded expectations during its inaugural campaign, whether it was season tickets, average attendance or corporate sponsorships.
According to the Wall Street Journal, when the club began to plan in 2020, it aims for 5,000 season tickets in its first season, but almost sold 16,000 and has a 90% renewal rate for 2023. Angel City also planned for an average attendance between 8,000 and 10,000 pa Banc of California Stadium but welcomed almost 19,000 with four sellouts. Corporate partnerships of 11 million dollars earned the expectation of 3.25 million dollars.
Angel City FC captain Ali Riley (5) hugs a fan after giving him a cleat after a match at the Banc of … [+] California Stadium.
Not one to diminish the importance Major League Soccer (MLS), which was born from the United States to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup, played to develop the sport and the NWSL, Ohanian was quick to point out that Angel City’s success in its inaugural campaign goes beyond its who’s who ownership group that also includes Billie Jean King, Candace Parker, P.K. Subban, Becky G, Sophia Bush and James Corden, as well as Christina Aguilera, Gabrielle Union, Rachel Zoe and Shawn Johnson East after a series A increase in February 2022.
“It’s facts over feelings,” Ohanian says. “I’m not here to say, ‘Oh, it would be really great if people would come to support women, because it’s important to inspire young girls.’ Year-old franchise that once had David Beckham in Los Angeles without making a product that people just fucking love and are excited about.
“Every time someone buys the shirt, turns up or tweets about the match, they know they’re printing something much, much bigger. I’ve learned a lot about online communities over the years – it’s the power of it, all the “Energy that’s been pent up for so long. I just love to see it in such a positive place. Women deserve it.”
Angel City FC is not the only NWSL franchise to benefit from increased investment, especially from big name backers. Gotham FC welcomes Carli Lloyd, Kevin Durant, Rich Kleiman, Sue Bird and Eli Manning to the club’s ownership group in 2022. Oscar De La Hoya and James Harden are investors in the Houston Dash, while Jenna Bush Hager, Chelsea Clinton, Dominique Dawes and Alexander Ovechkin are minority investors in Washington Spirit.
Famous owners/investors or not, the NWSL continues to grow and expand as it enters its 10th season. twice on October 16 – the Dash welcomed 21,284, followed by expansion side San Diego Wave FC hosting 26,215 later that day.
Viewership for last year’s championship match was up 216% compared to the 2019 final. The league will begin its 2022 championship on primetime at 8:00 p.m. ET on Oct. 29 on CBS thanks to a “recent collaboration” between the broadcaster and Ally, the title sponsor of the match. The NWSL also has 14 corporate partners including Nike, Budweiser, Verizon, CarMax and Mastercard.
Despite the fallout from the Yates report regarding allegations of abusive behavior and sexual misconduct across the league that led to the resignation of owners, coaches and staff, the future could not look brighter for the NWSL and women’s soccer in the United States.
“(The players) have been dealing with the expectation for their whole lives from school to college and now in the league knowing that this was something that the pros continued to be underfunded and supported, but they still wanted to do it , even if they had it. to work the side jobs,” Ohanian says. “There’s still so much more to do, so this isn’t a victory lap, but I’m so happy to see the change in mindset.”
