The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) was chosen by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) as the winner of the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year® 2024 Greater Los Angeles Award. LAFC, which has been recognized for its entrepreneurial spirit and impact on the sports industry, was represented by Lead Managing Owner Bennett Rosenthal, Owner Will Ferrell, and Co-President & CBO Larry Freedman.
An independent judging panel, which included previous award winners, leading CEOs, and other influential business leaders, determined that the LAFC deserved this recognition the most. The evaluation criteria included the club’s ability to create long-term value, commitment to its purpose, growth, and substantial impact, among other factors.
“We are honored and extremely grateful to be recognized as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Greater Los Angeles,” said Bennett Rosenthal, LAFC’s Lead Managing Owner. “I want to thank our Co-Managing Owners Larry Berg and Brandon Beck and Executive Chairman Peter Guber for their vision, expertise, and incredible friendship and partnership. I also must thank the rest of our ownership group for coming together to make our crazy dream of bringing a second soccer team to Los Angeles a success beyond what anyone thought was possible.”
The LAFC first launched in the competitive Los Angeles sports market in 2014. It quickly built a brand that has earned global respect. Since their first match in 2018, LAFC has reached the top of Major League Soccer (MLS), receiving praise both on and off the field for its innovation and a commitment to its core values – integrity, extreme ownership, and authenticity. The club also exudes talent, winning the 2022 MLS Cup. Since it began it has accumulated more wins and points than any other team in the league.
“This is a special award for our club,” said Will Ferrell, one of LAFC’s owners. “It has been inspiring to see the way the community and the supporters in the 3252 have embraced this team from the very first day, and we look forward to many more incredible nights with them at BMO Stadium.”
LAFC’s other noteworthy milestones include becoming the first MLS team to be valued at over $1 billion by Forbes, building the 22,000-seat BMO Stadium in the heart of Los Angeles (a stadium that has sold out every MLS regular-season and playoff game in the club’s history), and opening its doors to over 1 million fans for concerts in 2023.
“In just seven years since we first kicked a ball and opened our doors, it is incredible to see how LAFC and BMO Stadium have become industry leaders in the world of sports and entertainment,” said Larry Freedman, LAFC Co-President & CBO. “We are excited to be recognized with this award, and to continue our mission of uniting the World’s City through the World’s game, bringing joy and being a force for good in Los Angeles.”
As a Greater Los Angeles award winner, LAFC qualifies for consideration in the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 National Awards. The National Award winners will be announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award in June 2025.
