In-Depth
‘Who wouldn’t want to join’
LAFC has leaned heavily on its expansive and experienced ownership group through its four-year buildup.
Each Friday at 9:30 a.m., LAFC’s ownership group comes together to talk about the progress of the club. On one particular day as they all filed into a conference room, a guest was announced — Tony Robbins, one of the club’s co-owners.
Robbins spent much of the next 20 or so minutes doing what he does best — lifting spirts and motivating people in a way that few others are known for.
As Robbins wrapped up, Tom Penn leaned over to fellow co-owner Peter Guber and asked if he’d like to add anything.
“Peter said, ‘I’m not f------ following that,’” recalled Larry Freedman, the club’s chief business officer who has worked with Guber on his minor league baseball endeavors. “In the last 12 years, it’s the only time I’ve ever seen Peter speechless.”
Moments like that have marked the journey for the team as it has aligned behind a common goal that brought industry titans such as Guber, Robbins and others together behind a crest that has existed for a little over two years.
“You look at this management group and it is heady waters; there’s so much passion, so much proven success,” Guber said.
“Who wouldn’t want to join?”
— Ian Thomas
Lead Managing Owner
Larry Berg
senior partner at Apollo Global Management and chairman of McGraw-Hill Education
Co-Managing Owner
Brandon Beck
co-founder of Riot Games
Co-Managing Owner
Bennett Rosenthal
co-founder and partner of Ares Management
Executive Chairman and Owner
Peter Guber
chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group and co-owner Golden State Warriots
Vice Chairman and Owner
Henry Nguyen
managing general partner of private equity firm IDG Ventures Vietname
Director and Owner
Ruben Gnanalingam
CEO of Westports Malaysia and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers
Director and Owner
Vincent Tan
Malaysian businessman and majority owner of Cardiff City Football Club
President and Co-Owner
Tom Penn
ESPN NBA analyst, founder of Sports Leadership Institute and former NBA executive
Will Ferrell
actor and producer
Mia Hamm Garciaparra
entrepreneur and former U.S. women's national team player
Nomar Garciaparra
former Major League Baseball player
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
NBA hall of famer and current Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations
Goodwin Gaw
co-founder and principal of Gaw Capital Partners
Chad Hurley
co-founder and former CEO of YoutTube
Tucker Kain
Los Angeles Dodgers CFO and managing director at Guggenheim Baseball Management
Kirk Lacob
Golden State Warriors assistant GM and vice president of GSW Sport Ventures
Mitch Lasky
general partner at Benchmark
Mark Leschly
managing partner at Iconica Partners and Rho Capital Partners
Mike Mahan
Dick Clark Productions president
Marc Merrill
co-founder of Riot Games
Irwin Raij
co-chair of the sports industry group at O'Melveny
Tony Robbins
best-selling author, life coach and entrepreneur
Lon Rosen
Los Angeles Dodgers CMO
Paul Schaeffer
Mandalay Entertainment Group vice chairman/COO
Brandon Schneider
Golden State Warriors vice president
Allen Shapiro
Dick Clark Productions CEO and managing partner of Mosaic Media Investment Partners
Mark Shapiro
WME-IMG co-president
Jason Sugarman
private equity investor
Harry Tsao
part-owner of Golden State Warriors and technology investor
Rick Welts
Golden State Warriors COO and President
