Thursday, July 23, 2026

MLS Cup Final Features Star-Studded Ownership Groups

  • The Major League Soccer final will be a clash of star owners.
  • Fans will not be able to park at Banc of California Stadium due to prior arrangements for a USC game.
MLS-Cup-Trophy
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

On Saturday, Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant will be pitted against his team’s owner, Joseph Tsai, in the Major League Soccer Cup final.

The Philadelphia Union, part-owned by Durant, will take on Los Angeles FC, whose star-studded ownership group includes Tsai.

  • Durant bought 5% of the team with an option to double his stake at a valuation above $325 million, according to team majority owner Jay Sugarman.
  • LAFC’s managing owners are Riot Games co-founder Brandon Beck, Apollo Global Management senior partner Larry Berg, and Ares Management co-founder Bennett Rosenthal.
  • The team’s stakeholders also include Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Mia Hamm Garciaparra, Nomar Garciaparra, Will Ferrell, and many others with ties to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Golden State Warriors, and private equity firms.

The game will take place at LAFC’s $350 million Banc of California Stadium, which opened in 2018. The facility will soon need a new name: Banc of California reportedly paid $20 million to shorten its $100 million, 15-year naming rights deal signed in 2016.

Parking Prohibited

LAFC fans attending the game will face a unique situation: Parking at the stadium is prohibited because the lot is reserved for the Cal-USC football game at the neighboring Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The team will run shuttles from Dodgers Stadium to the 22,000-capacity Banc of California Stadium.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

World Cup Ignites MLS Ticket Sales, Ratings Stay Mostly Flat

Single-game ticket sales for the Philadelphia Union are up 218%.
A giant screen broadcasts the U.S. and Belgium World Cup match during an outdoor watch party on Gay St. on July 6, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

MLS Commish: World Cup ‘Proved We Are a Soccer Nation’

The commissioner said the event has “brought out the best” from the U.S.

MLS Commish: ‘We’ve Got a Lot of Boats’ on Soccer’s Rising Tide

The league eyes significant growth in the wake of a massive World Cup.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

7/23/26 – SEC Breakaway Talks, Bezos Eyes Liverpool, Miami’s LeBron Error

0:00

Featured Today

Tom's Watch Bar

Sports Bars Are Cashing In From Summer of Soccer

The World Cup has brought a windfall to America’s biggest sports bars.
Jun 16, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; France forward Michael Olise (11) controls the ball against Senegal during a Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium
July 16, 2026

Where World Cup Stars Go to Customize Their Cleats

The world’s best players turn to a Scottish craftsman for perfect cleats.
July 10, 2026

What the World Cup Means to Erling Haaland’s Tiny Hometown

The tournament’s breakout star is from a rural Norwegian town.
July 10, 2026

Why So Many Media Outlets Are Rushing Into Sports

Sports coverage has ballooned in every corner of media.
Pillow Fight Championship
July 8, 2026

How Obscure Sports Get Mainstream TV Deals

For niche sports, getting on TV often matters more than getting paid.

WNBA Union Blasts Chicago Sky For Yet Another Facility Delay

The facility has been delayed multiple times since being announced in 2024.
July 16, 2026

Mark Cuban Gearing Up for Lawsuit Over New Mavs Arena

Cuban seeks to prove Patrick Dumont unlawfully cut him out of opportunities.
Mar 8, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Gary Trent Jr. (5) drives for the basket against Orlando Magic guard Jevon Carter (2) in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum.
July 16, 2026

NBA Investigating Gary Trent Jr.’s New Bucks Contract

Trent agreed to a four-year, $64 million deal on July 11.
Sponsored

Inside the EY 2026 Sports Engagement Index: The Real Map of American Sports Participation

EY’s latest index explores how shifting U.S. fan behaviors are expanding the definition of sports engagement.
Jerry Colangelo sits courtside as the GCU Lopes play the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Mortgage Matchup Center on Dec. 6, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona.
First at FOS
July 15, 2026

Las Vegas Jacks Have Been in the Works for Over a Year

The group paid $2,200 in fees to apply for the two trademarks.
July 12, 2026

Seahawks Set NFL Record With $9.612B Sale to Khosla

Vinod Khosla’s wife will “serve as the controlling owner.”
Jun 20, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing William Carrier (28) and defenseman K'andre Miller (19) walk out with the Stanley Cup trophy during the Stanley Cup championship parade and rally at Raleigh.
July 10, 2026

Dundon Faces Backlash for Engraving Kids’ Names on Stanley Cup

All five names of the owner’s children are on the Stanley Cup.
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) catches a pass against New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones (25) in the first half in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.
July 9, 2026

Two Bidders Pull Ahead in Seahawks Sale Process

One of the two groups includes at least one former Seahawks player.