Los Angeles FC

Los Angeles Football Club
Team logo
Full name Los Angeles Football Club
Founded October 30, 2014 (October 30, 2014)
Ground LAFC Stadium
Ground Capacity 22,000
Owners
Executive Chairman Peter Guber[1]
League Major League Soccer
Website Club home page

Los Angeles Football Club is an expansion franchise in Los Angeles that plans to begin play in Major League Soccer (MLS) starting in 2018.[2][3] The team was announced in October 2014.[4]

The ownership group is headed by venture capitalist Henry Nguyen, entrepreneur Peter Guber and former National Basketball Association executive Tom Penn.[5] The ownership group also includes businessmen Ruben Gnanalingam and Vincent Tan.[6] In addition, the club has a further 21 named investors including Magic Johnson, Nomar and Mia Hamm-Garciaparra, Chad Hurley, Tony Robbins and Will Ferrell.[6][7][8]

John Thorrington was hired as Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations.[9]

The ownership sought input from fans to decide the permanent name and logo. On November 7, 2014, Nguyen expressed a preference for the name Los Angeles Football Club being permanent, describing it as "timeless" and saying, "in the world, football means one thing. Maybe it speaks a little bit to our own vision and our own aspirations."[6] On September 15, 2015, the club announced the placeholder name, Los Angeles Football Club, would be the official team name.[10]

Stadium

Main article: LAFC Stadium

On May 17, 2015, the Los Angeles Times reported the team chose the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena site to build a 22,000-seat stadium, costing $250 million. The group estimated the project would create 1,200 temporary construction jobs and 1,800 full-time jobs, generating $2.5 million in annual tax revenue.[11] The environmental impact report, arena demolition and stadium construction are expected to take three years and delay the team's debut to 2018.[3]

Academy

On February 1, 2016 the club announced the founding of the LAFC Academy.[12] The academy is launching with a fully funded U12 USSDA academy team with a roster of 26 players. Joey Cascio was named coach of the U12 team.[13]

Colors and badge

The club's colors and logo were unveiled on January 7, 2016 at Union Station. The colors are black and gold, with a flash of red.[14] The Art Deco-inspired logo incorporates a shield outline referencing that found on the city seal, with a winged "LA" monogram and the words "Los Angeles" and "Football Club" in Neutraface.[15] The crest was designed by Matthew Wolff.[16]

Team management

Front office
owner and managing partner Henry Nguyen
owner and executive chairman Peter Guber
owner and president Tom Penn
chief operating officer Carl Schloessman
executive vice president, soccer operations John Thorrington

Culture

LAFC, through social media, invited potential fans to become LA Originals. The Black Army 1850 supporters group has been a vocal presence at town meetings and at the logo unveiling.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 "Our Ownership". Los Angeles FC. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  2. ↑ Bartlett, Blair (September 15, 2015). "Los Angeles' newest Major League Soccer team announces official club name and launches collaborative effort with supporters to identity club colors with social media campaign" (PDF) (Press release). Los Angeles Football Club. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Expansion L.A. soccer team plans new stadium on Sports Arena site". Los Angeles Times. May 17, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  4. ↑ Carlisle, Jeff (October 27, 2014). "MLS shuts down Chivas USA; new club, ownership to return in 2017". ESPN FC. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ "MLS officials to announce details of new franchise replacing Chivas USA". The Los Angeles Times. October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Grant Wahl. "How did LAFC come to be? These businessmen are behind MLS' newest team - SI.com". SI.com. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  7. ↑ Mendola, Nicholas (October 30, 2014). "Los Angeles officially given new MLS team; Magic Johnson, Vincent Tan among investors". Pro Soccer Talk (NBCSports.com). Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Will Ferrell announced as LAFC part owner". Sports Illustrated. January 7, 2016.
  9. ↑ "LAFC introduces former MLSer John Thorrington as executive VP of soccer operations". www.mlssoccer.com.
  10. ↑ "LA's MLS expansion team announces official club name: Los Angeles Football Club". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Expansion L.A. soccer team plans new stadium on Sports Arena site". latimes.com. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Soccer Development Academy Adds 56 Clubs at Under-12 Division for 2016-17 Season". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  13. ↑ "LAFC Academy | We Start Here". lafc.academy. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  14. ↑ "Our Crest". Los Angeles Football Club - LAFC. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  15. ↑ Couch, Ben. "LAFC unveil crest, logo, colors ahead of MLS launch in 2018". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  16. ↑ "LOS ANGELES FC". Matthew Wolff Design. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Will Ferrell joins LAFC as part-owner as new MLS team unveils logo and colors". ESPNFC. January 7, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2016.

External links

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