Jess Smith, current Head of Revenue for Angel City Football Club (ACFC), most recently flipped the sports industry sponsorship model on its head by introducing the groundbreaking Angel City Sponsorship Model. In this model, Smith’s brainchild, ACFC, reallocates 10% of all sponsorships to go directly into the Los Angeles community in the pillars of equity, essentials, and education. This scalable model is already changing the industry only one year since its adoption. Additionally, Smith has been pivotal in the ideation and rollout of the ACFC Fan-Fueled Player Fund, where 1% of net ticket sales for home matches will go to players that promote home games on their social media channels. To round out Angel City’s purpose-driven models, Smith was integral in the fruition of the Player 22 Fund, which takes funds from partnerships and a special merchandise selection to support retired athletes in their next steps in the sports industry through training and education.
Smith has led Angel City to unmatched financial success in the proof of success models that drive to equity and revenue. Contracting over $45M of long-term partnership revenue while surpassing $10M in ticket sales in the club’s inaugural season. Moving into the 2023 season, her ticketing team has already achieved a 90% renewal rate. Her partnership team is tracking toward seven-figure additions to the partnership portfolio, setting the team up for record-breaking numbers again.
She has been asked to participate in various industry conferences, with recent keynotes at the ESPNW Summit (to a standing-room-only crowd) and Marie Claire’s Power Trip, calling for industry change in valuation, leading toward acknowledgment and equity within women’s sports globally.
While building Angel City, Smith took on the curation of match day and ownership of event operations while simultaneously launching the club’s data and analytics department to ensure company growth and awareness were based on data. Smith serves as Angel City’s Chief Business Officer in NWSL relations, serving as a league resource for commercial growth. She also manages local broadcast relationships that include iHeart Media, Bally Sport West, and La Mera Mera.
Before Angel City, Jess spent time with the Oakland Athletics, Columbus Blue Jackets, and San Jose Earthquakes. Smith is originally from Upstate New York, holds an MSA from Ohio University and a BA from SUNY Oswego. She is a proud mom to two young daughters she shares with her husband Scott, Kipton and Vaughn.