DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Bay FC: NWSL expansion team wants to ‘change the face of American soccer,’ says new signing Jen Beattie
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Amanda Davies | Rebecca Hall | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Bay FC may be the new kid on the NWSL block, but recent signing Jen Beattie has insisted that the team isn’t there to make up the numbers, rather to “change the face of American soccer.”Beattie, a true legend of the women’s game, left Arsenal to join Bay FC in February. As well as Beattie, Bay FC has signed several high-profile internationals ahead of its inaugural season, including Zambian Racheal Kundananji for a reported $787,000 world record fee, Nigerian star Asisat Oshoala and Mexican forward Scarlett Camberos. It didn’t take very long to convince me, I’ll be honest … Everyone wants to lift trophies and everyone wants to be as successful as possible.”Jen Beattie joined Bay FC from Arsenal in February. Ed Szczepanski/USA Today Sports/ReutersBay FC, and its star-studded roster, is not the first expansion team to enter the NWSL attempting to shake up the status quo. However, eyes now turn to Bay FC and its impressive roster to see just how much of an upset the team can cause in the NWSL.

Persons: Jen Beattie, ” Beattie, – Aly Wagner, Danielle Slaton, Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne –, Asisat Oshoala, Scarlett Camberos, Beattie, Amanda Davies, I’ll, ” Jen Beattie, Ed Szczepanski, Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria, Serena Williams, Billie Jean King, “, ”, Albertin Montoya, He’s, “ I’ve, Tess Boade dribbles, Angel City, Abe Arredondo, I’m, I’ve Organizations: CNN —, Arsenal, Bay FC, North, –, Montpellier, Manchester City, Melbourne City, Scotland, San Francisco Bay Area, Sixth, CNN, USA, Sports, Reuters, FC, Sunday, BMO, Angel City, Angel, League, Chelsea, Gunners Locations: North London, San Francisco Bay, Bay, Zambian, Los Angeles, Angel

☆ Racheal Kundananji: Bay FC signs Zambian soccer star for reported $787,000 world record fee
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Bay FC, the newest team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), has made an ambitious statement of intent ahead of the upcoming season by signing Zambian international Racheal Kundananji. “I want to give the [Bay FC] fans what they want – to enjoy the games, to enjoy seeing me playing and scoring.”Kundananji joins Bay FC from Spanish side Madrid CFF for a reported world record fee of €735,000 (around $787,000), according to multiple reports including ESPN. CNN has contacted Bay FC, Madrid CFF and the NWSL regarding the transfer fee. The contract runs through the 2027 season with an option for an additional year in 2028, Bay FC said. “We are delighted to add Racheal to our group,” Bay FC general manager Lucy Rushton said in a press release from the club.

Persons: Kundananji, ” Kundananji, Lucy Rushton, Diego Souto, Asisat Oshoala, Jen Beattie, Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, Aly Wagner Organizations: CNN — Bay FC, National Women’s Soccer League, Zambian, “, BBC Sport Africa, FC, Bay FC, Madrid CFF, ESPN, CNN, Real Madrid, Liga F, Spain’s Liga, San, Spanish, Costa, US Women’s National, Sixth Locations: “ People, Zambia, Bay, Spanish, Scottish, San Jose, Kazakhstan, Costa Rica

☆ NWSL to launch expansion process for 16th team
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 10 (Reuters) - The NWSL will begin the process of expanding to a 16th team, Commissioner Jessica Berman said on Friday, as the top-flight North American league looks to build with a landmark new broadcast deal in place. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) previously announced it will welcome a 13th and 14th club next year, the San Jose-based Bay FC and the Utah Royals, and a Boston-based team is expected to join beginning in 2026. The league welcomed two other teams, Los Angeles' Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC, in 2022. Berman said that viewership on the CBS network was up 41% year-over-year this season while streaming on Paramount+ climbed 83%. The NWSL season wraps up on Saturday with a championship match between the Seattle-based OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham FC at San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium.

Persons: Jessica Berman, Berman, Amy Tennery, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Women's Soccer League, FC, Utah Royals, Angel City FC, San Diego Wave FC, ESPN, CBS, Prime Sports, Scripps, ION, Paramount, NY Gotham FC, Thomson Locations: San Jose, Boston, Los Angeles, U.S, Seattle, NJ, San, New York

The National Women's Soccer League is looking to add a 16th team, Commissioner Jessica Berman announced Friday. Gotham FC plays OL Reign for the league title on Saturday night. Political Cartoons View All 1240 ImagesBerman said ticket sales to NWSL games grew 36% this season and average attendance at games was up 26 percent. Last month, OL Reign attracted a record NWSL crowd of 34,130 to Lumen Field in Seattle for Megan Rapinoe's farewell match. The sale of both OL Reign and the Portland Thorns is progressing, with deals expected to be announced by the end of this year, Berman said.

Persons: Jessica Berman, “, ” Berman, Berman, Lumen, Megan Rapinoe's, we've, ___ Organizations: Women's Soccer League, Utah Royals, Bay FC, Gotham FC, ESPN, CBS Sports, Amazon Prime, Scripps Sports, San Diego Wave, CBS, Portland Locations: Northern California, Boston, U.S, Seattle

☆ NWSL announces record broadcast deal to start in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Scripps Company CEO Adam Symson speaks during a press conference announcing the NWSL’s new partnerships with CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video, and Scripps Sports at Venue 808. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 9 (Reuters) - The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has agreed a four-year media deal with broadcasters ESPN, CBS, Prime Sports and Scripps' ION Network, the league said on Thursday. The NWSL described the deal, worth a reported $60 million annually, as the "largest media investment in women's sports history", promising "record-breaking distribution and revenue" for the top-flight American league. The 2024 NWSL will include two expansion teams, Bay FC and the Utah Royals. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Adam Symson, Kyle Terada, Jessica Berman, Rosalyn Durant, Amy Tennery, Ed Osmond Organizations: Scripps Company, CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime, Scripps Sports, Women's Soccer League, CBS, Prime Sports, Scripps, ION Network, Bay FC, Utah Royals, Thomson Locations: San Diego , California, USA, Australia, New Zealand, New York

The National Women's Soccer League on Thursday announced a new media rights deal that will feature the league's matches on ESPN, CBS Sports, Amazon Prime Video and Scripps Sports. “We’re resetting the standards by which women’s sports can be valued.”The league's current deal with CBS Sports ends at the end of this season. Political Cartoons View All 1239 ImagesStarting next season, a Friday night game on Prime Video will kick off each weekend. The remaining regular season games will be part of a domestic direct-to-consumer package produced and distributed by the NWSL, the league said. In the playoffs, Prime Video and a CBS platform will each broadcast a quarterfinal each, while ESPN/ABC airs the other two.

Persons: ”, Jessica Berman, “ We're, ” Sean McManus, Berman, Megan Rapinoe's, Lumen, Rapinoe, Ali Krieger, ___ Organizations: Women's Soccer League, ESPN, CBS Sports, Amazon Prime, Scripps Sports, Gotham FC, CBS, Scripps, ION, Paramount, CBS Sports Network, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, Endeavor, NHL, NFL, Utah Royals, Bay FC, U.S . Locations: San Diego, Seattle, Gotham

Major League Baseball was the first to open its coffers to private-investment funds in 2019; a slew of other leagues followed, including the National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer and the National Hockey League. A big participant in that is Sixth Street Partners, a $74 billion behemoth, known historically for its direct lending and growth prowess, and has been making big inroads in the sports world in recent years, with several billion dollars' worth of investments. The firm recently co-founded Bay FC, part of the National Women's Soccer League, alongside several retired players, as well as Sheryl Sandberg. Sixth Street also made investments in FC Barcelona's LaLiga TV broadcasting rights and a majority investment in Legends, a sports and entertainment experiences company. In June 2021, Sixth Street led a strategic investment with Michael Dell in the San Antonio Spurs basketball team.

Persons: Carlyle, David Rubenstein, Sheryl Sandberg, Michael Dell, Alan Waxman, what's, it's, Waxman Organizations: Alpha, CNBC, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, National Hockey League, Sixth Street Partners, Bay FC, National Women's Soccer League, Sixth, FC Barcelona's LaLiga, San Antonio Spurs basketball, Spanish soccer, Real Madrid Locations: U.S, Spanish

☆ NWSL's new Bay FC hope to ride World Cup wave of excitement
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Nathan Frandino | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAN FRANCISCO, June 3 (Reuters) - The founders behind the new National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team in California's San Francisco Bay Area believe this year's Women's World Cup will only add to their momentum as they kick off their inaugural season next year. Some of us are going to be calling the World Cup, so to see Bay FC involved in the World Cup and vice versa, it's only going to help build the momentum." Chastain's role at the World Cup is among the most iconic for the U.S. She scored the deciding penalty in 1999, sealing the win against China at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena. Chastain said that holding onto the World Cup excitement this year and bringing it to their games next year will be about making fans feel valued as part of the team. Roughly a third of the U.S.-based league's players are expected to feature, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said this week.

Persons: Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, Aly Wagner, Osborne, it's, Chastain, " Chastain, Jessica Berman, Sheryl Sandberg, Tom Bernthal, Rory Carroll, Daniel Wallis Organizations: FRANCISCO, National Women's Soccer League, California's San Francisco Bay Area, FC, U.S, China, Rose, Energy, Thomson Locations: California's San Francisco Bay, U.S, San Francisco, Pasadena, Australia, New Zealand, Los Angeles

Search resuls for: "Bay FC"

8 mentions found