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Los Angeles Times
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘It's a movement': Silver Lake is home to L.A.'s first women's sports bar
When Janie and Stephanie Ellingwood went to a local brewery one night to watch a U.S. Women's National Team soccer game with some friends, they didn't think it would be a big deal to ask the staff to turn on the sound. The bartenders had always been friendly to the married couple, who frequented the bar at least a few times a week. And they were the only patrons in the small room, situated away from the main viewing area where the volume was on full blast. So they were surprised when the staff curtly shot down their request without any explanation. The Ellingwoods continued watching the nail-biting game with subtitles, but as it got more and more exciting, customers began spilling over to their side of the bar. Before long, the small room was packed. 'We were all cheering,' says Janie. 'We all gave each other high-fives.' Still, the staff refused to turn up the volume. The experience left the Ellingwoods, who are diehard fans of the L.A. Sparks and season-ticket holders for Angel City Football Club, wondering why there weren't any bars in Los Angeles where they could comfortably watch women's sports without feeling ostracized. So they decided to create their own. After months of searching for a location, the wife-and-wife duo took over another sports bar in Silver Lake — formerly known as Trophy Wife — and turned it into Untamed Spirits, the first women's sports bar in the city of L.A. Opened in early June to coincide with Pride Month, Untamed Spirits joins a short list of bars in the U.S. dedicated to women's sports, including Portland's Sports Bra, which is expanding to four new cities including Las Vegas and Boston; Rough & Tumble in Seattle; Minnesota's A Bar of Their Own; and Rikki's in San Francisco. Long Beach's Watch Me! Sports Bar, which opened its doors last July, was the first in California. Stephanie, 37, who played professional golf for a few years, felt that L.A. needed something like this. 'Something that's a little bit classier, that isn't sticky when you put your arms on the bar,' she describes. 'For once, I want to watch a game at the bar with sound on instead of some random spot in the corner,' Janie, 34, adds. On a recent Tuesday night, Janie was behind the counter pouring drinks, including their signature Angel City pink punch, for patrons sitting at the bar, which was adorned with rainbow flags and an Angel City Football Club flag. Meanwhile, Stephanie was floating around the space, checking on customers. The couple, who met while playing volleyball together at La Quinta High School, also run a made-to-order croissant bakery based in Orange County and remodel and manage residential properties throughout Southern California. The bar is sleek and modern — a neon pink sign reads 'Welcome to the Untamed Era,' and whimsical black and white illustrations cover a few of the walls. Menstrual products are displayed on the bathroom counter. The spacious patio is filled with plants and a sign that says 'Watch Women's Sports Here.' (There's a TV in nearly every corner, so there's no bad seat.) Although Untamed Spirits specializes in women's sports of all kinds — even the more niche ones like kayaking, Janie says — the bar also plays men's sports. Sitting at a table with a date and two friends, Marina Sobreviñas, 31, says she's found that queer bars like Hi Tops in Los Feliz are more likely to play women's sports, but she felt that 'it's about time' there is a spot dedicated to them. She recalls her experience trying to watch the FIFA Women's World Cup at a bar. 'There was like, one World Cup TV out of the 10 TVs they had going, and it was sort of fascinating,' she says. 'Like, 'Am I'm the only one wearing a jersey today? OK, no problem.'' Sobreviñas says that women's sports are just as exciting as men's sports. Lisa Marie Ornelas, 30, agrees. 'Women [athletes], in a way, have a little bit more to prove,' she says. Untamed Spirits arrives in L.A. at a time when interest in women's sports is expanding at a 'meteoric pace' across the globe, according to Nielsen. The 2024 NCAA women's basketball tournament averaged nearly 19 million viewers (with a peak of 24 million viewers for the final game between Iowa and South Carolina), an 89% bump from the previous year. The WNBA draft audience jumped 511%, and overall interest in the league grew 29% between 2023 and 2024. The National Women's Soccer League saw a 17% boost in interest between 2023 and 2024. With the heightened interest, ad spending also increased: In 2024, TV advertisers spent $244 million on women's sports, a year-over-year increase of 139%, according to TV marketing firm EDO. 'Women in general have been playing great sports for a long time,' says Stephanie. 'I just think the right people who have the ability to put them in the spotlight are finally noticing.' More women's sports bars are expected to open throughout the country. Jax Diener, who opened Watch Me! Sports Bar in Long Beach with her wife about a year ago, recalls when women's sports weren't aired on TV at all. She went to the first WNBA game at the Forum in 1997. 'We used to come home after those games that were so exciting and turn on the sports that night to see the replays, and they weren't even mentioned,' says Diener. 'It was as if the league didn't even exist.' Diener says she was excited when she heard about another women's sports bar opening in Southern California. 'To me, it was really important for them to know that we're in this together,' she says, adding that she has a text thread with other women's sports bar owners where they share advice. 'This is not a competition. This is women supporting women.' Untamed Spirits recently became an official bar partner of the Angel City Football Club, which has a majority female-led ownership group that includes Natalie Portman, Abby Wambach and America Ferrera. The Ellingwoods will host their first watch party on Sept. 7 when the ACFC takes on Gotham FC. Janie and Stephanie, who've been at the bar every day since it opened, say they are excited to eventually distill their own spirits, host more events and watch parties in the space and foster community among women's sports lovers. 'Some people might call it a trend, but it's not a trend,' Janie says. 'I believe it's a movement.'
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TAMAGOTCHI® CREATOR BANDAI NAMCO TOYS AND COLLECTIBLES AMERICA ESTABLISHES LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP WITH LOS ANGELES' ANGEL CITY FOOTBALL CLUB
Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Becomes First Major Toy Sponsor of a Premier American Professional Women's Soccer Team Co-branded, limited-edition ACFC Tamagotchi® device available starting March 16 at ACFC's home opener at BMO Stadium and at IRVINE, Calif., March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 2024 was proven to be a banner year for Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America (BNTCA), solidifying its position as a leader in the global toy industry. Today, the company announces a groundbreaking four-year partnership with Angel City Football Club (ACFC), with an option for a fifth, which makes Bandai Namco the first toy brand to sponsor a major U.S. professional women's sports team. ACFC competes in the National Women's Soccer League, the world's premier women's professional soccer league, and has recently been recognized as the most valuable women's sports team globally. This Founding Level partnership will go beyond the goal posts and aligns two organizations driven by creativity, community, and a shared vision for excellence. Under ACFC's signature Angel City Sponsorship Model—where 10% of each sponsorship's value is reinvested back into the community—Bandai Namco and ACFC will collaborate to support the SOAR internship program. This initiative provides high school-age young women from under-resourced communities across Los Angeles with grants and mentorship opportunities, including interactions with Bandai Namco employees who will share insights about building futures in creative industries. As part of this collaboration, Bandai Namco is launching a co-branded, limited-edition Tamagotchi device featuring an ACFC-themed makeover. This exclusive collectible will be available starting March 16, coinciding with ACFC's home opener at BMO Stadium, and will also be sold on ACFC's online store at "At the Bandai Namco Group, our Mid to Long-Term Vision is to 'Connect with Fans,' and we are dedicated to building global communities with all stakeholders including fans of manga, anime, and games. ACFC's mission to create lasting communities by uniting football and service deeply resonated with us. We are thrilled and proud to support this club and work together to build meaningful connections for generations to come," said Kotaro Hama, CEO of Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles America. "At Angel City Football Club, we've always championed creativity, community, and innovation—and this partnership with Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles America is a perfect match for our values. Tamagotchi has been a beloved icon for generations, and now, with its ACFC twist, we're uniting fans of all ages in a truly unique way. Together, we're not just creating cool collectibles; we're building opportunities for young women to chase their dreams on and off the pitch," said Julie Uhrman, CEO and Co-Founder of Angel City Football Club. About Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc. (BNTCA) is a leading innovator in toys and collectibles. Known for iconic brands like Tamagotchi®, Anime Heroes®, Gunpla and Tamashii Nations®, BNTCA offers unique toys, model kits, and premium collectibles that bring beloved franchises to life. Headquartered in Irvine, California, BNTCA inspires creativity and passion, celebrating fandom and storytelling for collectors of all ages. For more information, visit About Angel City Football ClubAngel City Football Club (ACFC) of Los Angeles, in the National Women's Soccer League, is entering its fourth season in 2025 at BMO Stadium in downtown Los Angeles. ACFC is led by controlling owners Willow Bay and Bob Iger and was co-founded by tech entrepreneur Julie Uhrman, actor and activist Natalie Portman, and venture capitalist Kara Nortman. The club has been named the world's most valuable women's sports team, with a valuation of $250 million. Mark Parsons serves as the team's Sporting Director. 2025 Season Tickets are on sale and start at $308 per ticket. They come with year-round benefits, including tickets to all regular season home games plus an international friendly. For more information, please contact tickets@ or visit ACFC has launched the "Seats of Strength" initiative, a year-long ticketing program designed to provide first responders and those impacted by recent fires across Los Angeles with the opportunity to attend ACFC games free of charge. To make a donation or purchase tickets, please click HERE Learn more about ACFC at and follow the team on social media @weareangelcity. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America, Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
ANGEL CITY FOOTBALL CLUB ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH CARMAX
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Angel City Football Club (ACFC) today announced CarMax (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, as a Founding Partner and its Official Used Auto Retailer. This partnership will focus on community impact, with a dedicated emphasis on supporting youth sports programs in the Los Angeles area, fan engagement activities, and special promotions on game days. CarMax and Angel City will support the 'Essentials' pillar of ACFC's commitment to Equity, Essentials, and Education, enabling youth to access sports. This impact will include providing monetary funds to support these efforts as the Presenting Partner of the Angel City Camps Series, featuring ten weeks of youth soccer camps serving approximately 500 kids. Angel City will select the locations of these camps, which will take place across the greater LA region. In addition to the camps, CarMax will be the Presenting Partner of the club's annual Season Ticket Member Event, Presenting Partner of one Title Night each season, and the Presenting Partner of Parking, providing select fans free parking for each match. For more than 30 years, CarMax has championed integrity and transparency — the way car buying should be. Since 2020, the brand has applied that same philosophy to its sports partnerships by increasing its investment in leagues, teams, and athlete partners in women's sports to level the playing field. 'We are so proud to further our commitment to women's sports by partnering with Angel City Football Club, an organization that's trailblazed its own path to create a new standard in women's sports,' said CarMax Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Lane. 'Angel City FC and CarMax are guided by similar values - we're both people-first organizations driven to make a positive impact and help our communities thrive. We look forward to working together over the next few years to inspire the next generation of athletes.' "CarMax and Angel City FC share a visionary approach to innovation and industry transformation,' said Julie Uhrman, Co-Founder and President of Angel City Football Club. 'Their dedication to creativity and their pioneering spirit in the automotive industry mirror Angel City FC's commitment to reshaping the landscape of women's sports. Both organizations are united in our mission to provide access to opportunities and foster growth, and we're thrilled to welcome CarMax as a partner and to the positive impact we can make together.'" CarMax is also a multi-year partner with the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and is the presenting partner of the NWSL Shield, awarded to the club with the best record at the conclusion of the regular season and committed their investment toward increasing Shield bonuses the last three years. About Angel City Football ClubAngel City Football Club (ACFC) of Los Angeles, in the National Women's Soccer League, is entering its fourth season in 2025 at BMO Stadium in downtown Los Angeles. ACFC is led by controlling owners Willow Bay and Bob Iger and was co-founded by tech entrepreneur Julie Uhrman, actor and activist Natalie Portman, and venture capitalist Kara Nortman. The club has been named the world's most valuable women's sports team, with a valuation of $250 million. Mark Parsons serves as the team's Sporting Director. 2025 Season Tickets are now on sale and start at $50 per month. They come with year-round benefits, including tickets to all regular season home games plus an international friendly. For more information, please contact tickets@ or visit Learn more about ACFC at and follow the team on social media @weareangelcity. About CarMaxCarMax, the nation's largest retailer of used autos, revolutionized the automotive retail industry by driving integrity, honesty and transparency in every interaction. The company offers a truly personalized experience with the option for customers to do as much, or as little, online and in-store as they want. During the fiscal year that ended February 29, 2024, CarMax sold approximately 770,000 used vehicles and 550,000 wholesale vehicles at its auctions. In addition, CarMax Auto Finance originated more than $8 billion in receivables during fiscal 2024, adding to its more than $17 billion portfolio. CarMax has over 245 store locations, nearly 30,000 associates, and is proud to have been recognized for 20 consecutive years as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®. CarMax is committed to making a positive impact on people, communities and the environment. Learn more in the 2024 Responsibility Report. For more information, visit CONTACT: Public Relations CarMax (855) 887-2915 PR@ Public Relations Angel City Football Club media@
