SBJ On Stage is where the most impactful conversations in sports and business leadership get a second spotlight. Recorded live at Sports Business Journal’s industry events and presented with fresh context, each episode offers exclusive access to the insights, strategies and personal stories of the executives, entrepreneurs and visionaries shaping the future of sports. SBJ On Stage delivers candid conversations with real impact — giving listeners a front-row seat to leadership in motion. Look for new episodes every Tuesday.
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SBJ On Stage is where the most impactful conversations in sports and business leadership get a second spotlight. Recorded live at Sports Business Journal’s industry events and presented with fresh context, each episode offers exclusive access to the insights, strategies and personal stories of the executives, entrepreneurs and visionaries shaping the future of sports. SBJ On Stage delivers candid conversations with real impact — giving listeners a front-row seat to leadership in motion. Look for new episodes every Tuesday.
In this special episode of On Stage, actor, comedian, and LAFC co-owner Will Ferrell joins Larry Freedman, the club’s co-president, for a fireside chat moderated by SBJ’s Abe Madkour. Recorded on February 27, 2023, at the National Sports Forum in Los Angeles, this session offers a rare glimpse into how one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures became a driving force behind one of Major League Soccer’s most dynamic franchises. Ferrell shares his origin story with LAFC—from being recruited as an owner to embracing the culture of the club—while Freedman pulls back the curtain on how the team has built one of the most passionate fan bases in American sports. Together, they discuss:
- Why Will joined the ownership group and what he’s learned about sports business.
- The rise of LAFC as both a soccer powerhouse and a cultural brand.
- The mix of humor and humility that Ferrell brings to the boardroom and the locker room.
- What other franchises can learn from LAFC’s community-driven growth model.
As Abe Madkour later noted in his SBJ column, the session blended humor with real insight—a conversation that was equal parts entertaining and illuminating.
SBJ On Stage
SBJ On Stage is where the most impactful conversations in sports and business leadership get a second spotlight. Recorded live at Sports Business Journal’s industry events and presented with fresh context, each episode offers exclusive access to the insights, strategies and personal stories of the executives, entrepreneurs and visionaries shaping the future of sports. SBJ On Stage delivers candid conversations with real impact — giving listeners a front-row seat to leadership in motion. Look for new episodes every Tuesday.
