029 - Inside The Most Valuable Womens Sports Team In The World - Angel City FC

Courtney Ksiazek is the Senior Director of Partnership Marketing for Angel City FC, one of the most popular sports franchises in the USA. She highlights the importance of partnership marketing in telling the team's story and engaging with the community. During our conversation, Courtney talks about the importance of their landmark partnership with DoorDash, which helps provide meals to hundreds of thousands of people in need. One major takeaway from this episode is the importance of creating impactful partnerships that align with the team's values when trying to build a brand and increase fandom. Courtney also discusses the indicators of franchise health, such as viewership and attendance, and the collaborative nature of business operations professionals on different NWSL teams. She highlights the importance of supporter culture and the passionate atmosphere created by soccer fans. Courtney also shares the goals and future plans for Angel City FC, including international brand penetration and fostering relationships in the global soccer community. We also discuss the emergence of the USL Super League and the opportunities it provides for women's soccer players. Additionally, Courtney emphasizes the significance of global competitions and the ongoing work towards pay equity in women's sports. She concludes by sharing her favorite athletes and the impact of Angel City FC on her life. 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:09 Founding of Angel City FC 04:11 Partnership Marketing and Storytelling 05:57 Partnership with DoorDash 07:37 Creating Impactful Partnerships 09:03 Engaging with the Local Community 10:22 Differentiating in a Competitive Market 11:55 Expanding the Fan Base 12:59 Partnership Tiers and Assets 15:08 Indicators of Franchise Health 19:13 Viewership and Attendance 21:29 Season Ticket Holders and Supporter Groups 23:09 Supporter Culture and Atmosphere 25:23 Goals and Future Plans 26:40 International Expansion and Equity 28:53 USL Super League and Opportunities 31:03 Global Competitions and Growth 32:11 Partnership Deals and Pay Equity 35:38 Favorite Athletes and Legends 36:06 Impact of Angel City FC