Los Angeles is home to some of the most iconic sports teams in the world, and now they have one more to add to the list. On January 31, 2018, Magic Johnson, the former Los Angeles Lakers star, announced that he was part of a group that had acquired the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). This acquisition marks the first time that Johnson has been involved in a major sports franchise since his retirement from the NBA in 1991.
The LAFC is a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion team that will begin play in 2018. The team is owned by a group of investors led by Johnson, which also includes Henry Nguyen, Peter Guber, Tom Penn, and Vincent Tan. Johnson will serve as the chairman of the board of directors for the team.
Johnson has long been a proponent of bringing professional soccer to Los Angeles. In 2014, he was part of a group that attempted to purchase the Chivas USA franchise from MLS, but the deal fell through. With the LAFC, Johnson is finally getting his chance to bring professional soccer to Los Angeles.
The LAFC will play their home games at the Banc of California Stadium, which is currently under construction in Exposition Park. The stadium is scheduled to open in April 2018 and will have a capacity of 22,000. The team will also have their own training facility, which is located in El Segundo.
Johnson’s involvement in the LAFC is a major coup for the city of Los Angeles. His presence will bring attention and credibility to the team and will help to ensure its success. Johnson has already expressed his excitement about the project, saying “I’m thrilled to be part of this great venture and look forward to helping make LAFC one of the premier clubs in Major League Soccer.”
The LAFC is sure to be a major draw for soccer fans in Los Angeles and beyond. With Magic Johnson at the helm, it’s sure to be an exciting addition to the city’s sports landscape.
