BellTower Partners has made a strategic investment in the United Soccer League to help facilitate its expansion into a first-division men’s football league, set to launch in 2028.
Target Information
The United Soccer League (USL) has recently secured a strategic investment from BellTower Partners, a firm founded by former Carlyle Group CEO Kewsong Lee. This investment involves BellTower acquiring a minority equity stake in the USL and Lee assuming the role of vice-chair on the league's board. The influx of capital will be directed towards the league's ambitious plan to launch a new men’s competition in 2028, which aims to introduce a promotion and relegation system that would mark a significant innovation for professional sports in the United States.
The USL currently operates several tiers of soccer leagues, including the second-tier Championship, the third-tier League One, and the pre-professional League Two. Additionally, the organization oversees the D1-sanctioned women’s Super League. The forthcoming expansion is set to position USL as the second top-flight men’s league in the country, competing alongside the well-established Major League Soccer (MLS).
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Industry Overview
The soccer industry in the United States has witnessed substantial growth over the past decade, reflecting a steadily increasing interest in the sport across the country. Despite the historical dominance of major leagues like the NFL and NBA, soccer has made con
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BellTower Partners
invested in
United Soccer League (USL)
in
in a Strategic Partnership deal