Local Bay Area female entrepreneurs, businesswomen, and community groups will be honored when Bay FC takes on Seattle Reign FC at PayPal Park
San Francisco (April 11, 2024) – Bay FC, the new women’s professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), will kick off its inaugural season of theme and heritage nights with Women’s Empowerment Night this Sunday, April 14 as the team takes on Seattle Reign FC at 5 p.m. at PayPal Park in San Jose.
Women’s Empowerment Night will provide the opportunity for Bay FC to recognize some of the incredible female-owned businesses and female-led community groups as well as hear from players on what women’s empowerment means to them.
“As the leader of an all-female executive team born from our female Co-founders and U.S. Women’s National Team Legends, Women’s Empowerment night is extra special to our club,” said Bay FC CEO Brady Stewart. “Beginning our theme and heritage nights highlighting the importance of women’s empowerment is true to the heart of our club’s focus – shaping strong leaders on and off the pitch.”
To begin the evening, Bay FC will be hosting leaders from local girl- and women-serving organizations for a speed networking event from 4 – 4:30 p.m. Leaders from Lean In Girls, Girl Scouts of Northern California, Presentation High School, Notre Dame High School, Girls on the Run of Silicon Valley, Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI), Women’s Coaching Alliance, Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Family Foundation, and Athena Camps will be in attendance. Bay FC board member and strategic investor Sheryl Sandberg will be in attendance to welcome the groups and invite them to participate in thoughtful conversation. Please reach out to Bay FC communications at moc.cfyab@sserp to cover the networking event or request an interview on any of the below activities.
Additional events for Women’s Empowerment Night include:
- Recognizing who Inspires the Bay FC Community: Leading up to Sunday’s match, Bay FC fans were provided the opportunity to submit the names of women who inspire them – those nominated will be featured on the videoboards throughout the night.
- FanFest Spirit Station Inspiration Signs: Those who arrive early can fill out posters with the names of women who inspire them located at the Spirit Station inside FanFest which will be shared on the Bay FC videoboard and social channels throughout the evening.
- Get Hyped with DJ Bitesize: Female DJ, Bitesize, will entertain fans and hype up the crowd at FanFest pre-match.
- Fill up with Female-Owned Food Trucks: BBQ Kalbi, Falafel Fresh, Old Greenwood BBQ, I Love Cheesesteak, Luv’s Brownies and Kabob Trolley, which are owned and operated by women.
- Welcome Bay FC to the Pitch with Female Led Drumline Performance: Get loud and welcome the Bay FC players onto the pitch with a performance by female-led drumline, Bay FC Beats.
- National Anthem Sung by Local All-Girls High School: San Jose-based Presentation High School’s choir will be singing the national anthem.
- Halftime Performance: Stay tuned for a female-led performance at halftime.
- Celebrate Influential Women of the Bay Area: Throughout the match, Bay FC will feature videoboard graphics highlighting influential women with Bay Area ties across sports, business, media, and more showcasing the pioneering Bay Area women who have come before us.
- Bay FC Players Share Who Impacts Them: Bay FC will integrate the names of women who have inspired current players throughout the locker room and shared on Bay FC platforms.
- Purchase Women’s Empowerment T-Shirt: Commemorate the evening by purchasing the item of the match – the Women’s Empowerment T-shirt, which retails for $35.
Local female artist Emma Leeper designed the Women’s Empowerment Night logo which will be showcased throughout the match and via Bay FC social channels. The match’s PA announcer Jaime Coffee, lead referee Ekaterina Koroleva, producer Stephanie Aguilera, color analyst Maura Sheridan, and play-by-play analyst Carmen Boquin are all female.
Bay FC is hosting its inaugural home season at PayPal Park in San Jose and tickets are now available for purchase at bayfc.com. Fans can also follow @wearebayfc on social channels for more exciting announcements to come.
About Bay Football Club
Bay Football Club (Bay FC) is the new women’s professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area and the 14th team to join the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Bay FC was established in April 2023 and co-founded by USWNT legends Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Aly Wagner in partnership with global investment firm Sixth Street and an investor group of leading tech, business and sports executives. Sixth Street’s investment is the largest institutional investment to date in a women’s professional sports franchise. Bay FC is changing the face of women’s soccer as we know it. Beginning play in the 2024 season, we are building a squad that will play the beautiful game with power, passion, energy, and creativity. Tickets are now on sale for Bay FC at https://bayfc.com and fans can follow Bay FC’s social channels (@wearebayfc) for the latest news, merchandise, and events.
