By Cal Lutheran News
Courtesy of Angel City Football ClubTHOUSAND OAKS, CALIF., April 23, 2024 — The wildly popular Angel City Football Club (ACFC) has extended its contract with California Lutheran University as the team’s training site for the National Women’s Soccer League team.
The Angel City Football Club has practiced at Cal Lutheran since 2022, when the team was founded. The new two-year agreement, with a possible one-year extension, enables ACFC to continue training at North Field and use the facilities within William Rolland Stadium and Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center.
“The Angel City football team includes athletes who are top in their sport. As such, the entire club serves as a role model for our own student-athletes and all others who strive to be and do the very best in their life and their career,” said Cal Lutheran President Lori E. Varlotta. “We are proud to have a continued partnership with the team and appreciate being able to support professional women’s soccer.”
ACFC players and executives share their knowledge of professional sports with students at Cal Lutheran through various forums as part of their residency agreement. The club — named a “Brand That Matters” by Fast Company in 2023 — provides internships to students at Cal Lutheran, which offers a bachelor’s degree in sports management and is adding a master’s degree in fall 2024. The organization’s staff members guest lecture in Cal Lutheran classes, and club members participate in talks with coaches and student-athletes.
In April, Angel City executives participated in a panel discussion for students and the community at Cal Lutheran on the topic of women and the business of sports. ACFC also celebrated Cal Lutheran’s women’s soccer team at BMO Stadium for its recent NCAA Division III championship. During the contract period, the club’s leadership will again hold an entrepreneurial workshop for students and staff at Angel City’s Los Angeles headquarters.
ACFC is the first majority female-founded, female-owned and female-run professional sports team in professional sports. The team’s founders are Academy Award-winning actress and activist Natalie Portman, technology venture capitalist Kara Nortman and media and gaming entrepreneur Julie Uhrman.
Cal Lutheran alumna Alex Mallen is ACFC’s director of corporate partnerships, and Public Relations Manager Kevin Rider is an adjunct faculty member in Cal Lutheran’s sports management program.
Cal Lutheran has a long history of partnering with elite athletic teams. The university was home to the Los Angeles Rams training facility from 2016 to 2023, and it hosted the Dallas Cowboys training camp for 26 years. The 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic men’s water polo teams trained at Cal Lutheran’s Samuelson Aquatics Center.
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About California Lutheran University: Founded in 1959 and formally recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution since 2016, California Lutheran University is home to 2,377 undergraduate and 1,033 graduate students. Our students come from 59 countries and represent a wide spectrum of faiths and spirituality. Our dedicated, accomplished faculty teach in small classes, guiding our students as they grow into open-minded leaders who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity andvocation, and committed to service and justice. Everyone at Cal Lutheran is committed to helping each student pursue their passions, discover their purpose and transform their community. Learn more at CalLutheran.edu.
About Angel City Football Club: Angel City Football Club (ACFC), a member of the National Women’s Soccer League, has completed its second season at BMO Stadium in Downtown Los Angeles. The team was founded by Academy Award-winning actress and activist Natalie Portman, technology venture capitalist Kara Nortman and media and gaming entrepreneur Julie Uhrman. Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Angela Hucles Mangano is the team’s general manager. Becki Tweed serves as head coach.
Group ticket sales of 10+ mini-plans offering discounted tickets to multiple matches of your choice, and single-match tickets are available. Season tickets for the 2024 season are still on sale in limited quantities. Fans are encouraged to purchase soon at AngelCity.com/tickets. Learn more about ACFC at AngelCity.com and follow the team on social media @weareangelcity.
Media Contacts
Mark A. Berry, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President
Marketing and Communications
Sarene Wallace
PR Consultant
805-816-5616
Sarene.Wallace1@gmail.com
Angel City FC PR Team
