Angela E.L. Barnes, left, and Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts stand for a portrait on Aug. 21, 2023. Ricketts and Barnes are part of the women-led ownership group that purchased the Chicago Red Stars.Ricketts spearheaded an investment group that officially became the new owner of the Chicago Red Stars on Friday after approval from the National Women’s Soccer League Board of Governors.[Don't miss] Title IX played a big part in Laura Ricketts’ life.
Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts sits for a portrait on Aug. 21, 2023. Ricketts is part of the women-led ownership group that purchased the Chicago Red Stars. Ricketts, who is the control person and lead investor, started to believe in mid-June that the Red Stars sale was more likely to happen. Looking for a clean slate, no one from the previous ownership group will remain.
Angela E.L. Barnes discusses the purchase of the Chicago Red Stars at the Cubs offices on Aug. 21, 2023. The Red Stars are last in the 12-team league in attendance, averaging only 4,033 fans through eight regular-season home games after ranking eighth last year. The lack of public transportation options — and what can be a 45-minute drive from downtown Chicago — doesn’t help, nor didfor the season in April when she suffered a torn patella tendon playing for the U.S. national team.
“We have to evaluate that and look at it honestly,” Ricketts said. “They need better practice facilities and need some investment there, definitely. Not only is it challenging to get down there , but just in general ultimately seeing them have some better facilities.”Chicago Red Stars defender Tatumn Milazzo heads the ball during the second half of an NWSL match against the Angel City FC in Los Angeles on Aug. 14, 2022.
“We’ll see how that plays out,” Ricketts said of getting Red Stars games on Marquee. “I don’t have any window into ultimately what that will look like next year, but it would be great. Candidly, there’s no talk of that right now.