Angel City Football Club, a member of the National Women’s Soccer League, announced in a press release on Nov. 18 that the club will be taking over the Los Angeles Rams’ former practice facility on the north campus of California Lutheran University.
The nine-acre facility will undergo a multi-million dollar renovation, according to Angel City’s press release.
Following its purchase by Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger and University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Dean Willow Bay, Angel City FC is valued at $250 million, making it the most valuable female sports franchise in history, according to ESPN.
Angel City has practiced at the university’s North Field since the team’s inception in 2022, according to Cal Lutheran’s website.
“ACFC is one of the first majority female-founded, female-owned and female-run professional soccer teams,” Cal Lutheran News said.
Per the LA Times, the 2022 Super Bowl Champion LA Rams have transitioned into their permanent training facility in Woodland Hills, having utilized Cal Lutheran’s north campus since their move to Los Angeles in 2016. Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success Matt Ward said that having two major sports teams use spaces at Cal Lutheran has been a “rare phenomenon.”
“It is a rare opportunity, it’s been good for the institution as far as the bottom line,” Ward said.
The new practice facility will include one full-size practice pitch and one half-size practice pitch, in addition to a 50,000-square-foot indoor space, Angel City said in their press release. The new facility will be the largest space solely dedicated to an NWSL club.
Ward said that Angel City wanted to “expand their operation” and their current location at North Field did not provide that opportunity.
“They want to have a training facility that is second to none and they have positioned themselves to do that,” Ward said.
Ward said that while the partnership will continue to be of great financial benefit to Cal Lutheran/ there is wording in the agreement to allow for future student internships and additional co-branding opportunities.
“The bottom line is that having them here creates opportunities for students, particularly those who want to be involved in sports, sports operations, sports marketing. With a professional organization we can create those opportunities,” Ward said.
Cal Lutheran Director of Athletics Howard Davis said he doesn’t believe the value of the partnership between the university and Angel City can be defined financially as it opens the door to a variety of mutual benefits.
“I think it brings great opportunities for our sports management undergrad program and graduate programs. In terms of internships, in terms of just proximity to a professional sports team,” Davis said.
In addition to the possible educational opportunities, Ward said he believes that Cal Lutheran’s mission aligns well with that of Angel City.
“I think the combination of Cal Lutheran’s emphasis on sports entertainment writ large and Angel City’s cutting edge work in that space has potential for really big things, where we both will get value,” Ward said. “I also think that Angel City has a mission and a value system that aligns really well with what we’re about.”
Davis and Ward said that following Angel City’s transition into the Rams’ former facility, North Field will once again be available for Cal Lutheran student programming, returning as a practice facility for university athletics and as possible intramural sports venue.
According to Ward, the possibility of Cal Lutheran forming another exclusive partnership with an outside organization for North Field is unlikely. Ward said for the university to entertain any agreements, “it would have to be a really big number.”
According to Angel City FC, the facility will be updated and ready for use during the 2025 NWSL Preseason.
“When you can have mission and margin intersect in a positive way, that’s a win-win,” Ward said.
