A new round of investment has arrived. Mexico’s top American football league, the Liga de Fútbol Americano (LFA), has opened its doors to private equity, bringing in U.S.-based Global Sports Capital Partners, the parties announced in a joint statement.
The American investment fund will provide “growth capital” to the LFA for at least seven years, with the goal of expanding American football and women’s flag football in Mexico, where more than forty million people are already involved with these sports.
Combined investment from the franchise owners competing in the LFA and from GSCP is expected to surpass 100 million dollars over the next seven years.
GSCP “will assume full responsibility for the daily operational management of the LFA,” the statement reads.
“Its investment and operational expertise will drive the league’s commercial growth, creating more opportunities for players, higher-quality franchises, and a more immersive game and viewing experience for fans.”
Michael MacDougall, founder and managing partner of GSCP, stated that “this is more than an investment in a league; it’s an investment in Mexico’s future and in the growth of American football as a global sport.”
He added that “the LFA has all the right ingredients: a massive and passionate fan base, committed owners, and major ambitions for growth.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Kalil and Blake Griffin, co-owners of OSOS Monterrey, added that “when we invested in Osos Monterrey, we saw firsthand how deep the love for American football runs in Mexico; what began as a bold initiative in Monterrey became a successful proof of concept that shows there is room for even more football.”
The Liga de Fútbol Americano (LFA) is Mexico’s premier professional American football league. Founded in 2016, it currently features eight professional franchises, building on the country’s longstanding university football tradition and its growing passion for the sport.
