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Carli Lloyd 4/26/22 | Otter.ai

Carli Lloyd 4/26/22

Howard Megdal19min

Speaker 1

00:00

And this is a manifestation of you finding soccer and bringing it, you know, directly into your day to day life now.

Speaker 2

00:11

Well, you know, this announcement we've gone from FC has kind of been a long time coming. Obviously, there's been a lot of paperwork and a lot of, you know, details that have had to been ironed out. So I've been, you know, anxiously kind of awaiting this announcement for a number of different reasons, you know, I felt that you know, leaving the field and play my last game for golf enough see that, you know, concluded my my career. I just felt there was still more for me to give. And so this is an exciting opportunity. One in which I'll probably figure out as I stay involved, have what I really enjoy. As far as an ownership standpoint, you know what, I'm going to want to dabble in a little bit more than than other things. But, you know, I really haven't been able to catch my breath since retirement, which is, is a good thing. I'm very grateful for all of the opportunities and I'm probably busier now than I was in my playing days. I'm also more available for many different things since I'm not training and playing games. So it's been it's been really amazing. I've been able to, you know, take take on so many different opportunities and kind of immerse myself in in different uncomfortable situations. And I've been, you know, just kind of enjoying this really, this this phase of life when you

Speaker 1

01:46

talk about uncomfortable situations over the last few months. Take me through what some of those things have been, you know, what's been keeping you busy.

Speaker 2

01:54

Well, I think, you know, obviously, I had some I had about a two and a half month retirement, you know, send off. So I remember I was able to start, you know, kind of, in the short term, figure out the necessary steps. You know, it was one of those things where, in speaking with my, my agents, you know, just kind of figuring out what I want to do with my life after soccer and just kind of keeping all doors open. So, you know, for me, this was a ownership side of it. Like I said, for Gotham FC the second part of the season I really saw it, you know, going in a different direction and a much positive direction, especially with the IL and ad and I talked with Tammy very frequently, so I knew there was always an opportunity to stay connected, and that's what we kind of did after I finished up with them. So we've been in constant communication, and then you know, being able to be a co conductor at the FIFA Men's World Cup draw. Never been a part of a live show before never co conducted a show. So that was definitely an uncomfortable but amazing experience to be part of having the opportunity with with Fox to be you know, on the desk as a as an analyst and go in the booth a little bit with ESPN. So I'm staying busy staying busy with a lot of my sponsors, which have graciously you know, continued to onboard me and keep me involved have some really cool projects with you know, tech ball and an emerging sport so that's really neat. So, yeah, just you know, just putting myself out there I you know, it's it's an interesting process, the retirement phase, I think many people tell you, it's a hard adjustment. It's really not you know, I haven't found it very hard at all because I was able to kind of dictate everything and when I left the sport, so that you know, I'm essentially very grateful for and I've had a lot of opportunities and you know, I think, you know, my on the field, training and dedication has just kind of rolled into this retirement phase. I'm finding myself, you know, just kind of saying yes to everything wanting to do everything right now, just to kind of figure out you know, what I actually really love and what I want to pursue, so it's, it's been really, really good.

Speaker 1

04:36

I remember talking to you last fall about coaching or something that you had in mind, you know, your competitive juices, I would imagine, might be more engaged with something on the soccer offside. I just, I just wonder how you think about that, about balancing that and how much that plays a part in an ownership stake in a team that obviously you've given a lot to already but it's it's different. It's not it's not soccer, soccer, per se, right?

Speaker 2

05:09

Yeah. I think that's the beauty of it is there's just, there's so many things from an ownership perspective. And, you know, with my experience and kind of knowledge on the game, and you know, being a player, I think that offers a much different perspective. And I think oftentimes, what we've seen in the NWSL over the years is there's a I'm not saying this with Gotham FC, but there's, you know, there's a little bit of a breakdown from kind of the top down to the players and, you know, I don't, I don't know what I'm going to enjoy, you know, am I going to enjoy maybe being out at practice occasionally or in and around the team or am I going to want to you know, really get with PIL and add in Tammy and discuss, you know, more of the business side? I think that's going to be the beauty of it is it's just going to kind of allow me to figure out what what I really like what I want to get involved in what I want to help in. And that's, you know, that's interesting to me, I think. I'm competitive by nature. I'm always striving to be the best version of myself in anything that I do. And I don't think that what I'm what I'm kind of realizing is I think I like to have different buckets going on in my life and just striving to kind of be the best at many different things. So this will be a you know, a unique situation. But I'm thrilled about it and I think it couldn't have come at at a more better time, especially with the rise that Gotham FC are seeing and I'm excited. I'm excited to you know, help help continue to build the club.

Speaker 1

06:56

There's also an element of real financial zoom that I think we're seeing across women's sports, particularly in women's soccer in the NWSL. And the example I always go back to is we look at when the Chateau rain were sold and became a while rain. They were sold for I want to say it was $3.4 million. If memory serves and wasn't that long ago is late 2019. And we saw the Washington spirit, you know, just get sold for $35 million. A little bit of a different scenario with a bidding war but there was another group that was prepared to spend 25 I mean, you know, that's a tenfold increase in a matter of a couple of years. So just as you think about your long term security and you there's so many things you had to develop through the years to concentrate on soccer, you know, how much does that play a part of feeling? Like, this is the right time for buying into a soccer team for your family's financial security and future?

Speaker 2

07:55

Yeah, well, you know, for me, it's, it's, it's just a perfect time. And I think it's it's just so important, you know, and I think it's it's important to have the right people involved and you know, as we've been seeing with the NWSL it has to be done right you know, and it may take a little bit you know, with Gotham FC you know, you're not going to see red bull that you know, sold out on the first home opener this game I mean, that's what we're striving for. But you have to start at the bottom and kind of build yourself up the right way. I'm a big, big believer in just doing things the right way and eventually, something amazing is going to be built and so I think you know, you're you're seeing the products out there the product you know, the the players you're seeing more and more people watch the games, you know, you're you're seeing games, being you know, on national television, so there's no better time to get involved. And, you know, I want to I want to help give back I want to help you know, give this sport, everything that it gave me and if if I can help and no, just play a role. That's really what it's all about. So, you know, it couldn't have come at a better time better team. And I'm just thrilled because I was able to play for this club for the last three years in my career, which is what I wanted, you know, I wanted to end my career in New Jersey and with the whole rebranding now it's, it's been great. So I think the sky's the limit with Gotham FC, and I'm just excited to finally be able to announce it and get to work and figure out how we can continue to make this one of the best clubs in the country and in the world.

Speaker 1

09:52

The growth that we saw from the national team during your time there. It sounds like mirrors in a lot of ways where you want Gotham to go as a club. Do you think that's fair to say just, you know, there's a lot of people talked about the national team as if there was always this sold out arena, but you helped build that you helped create and turn it into the juggernaut that it has become. Do you feel like those are the types of lessons and I'm curious if there are specifics from that experience as a player that you intend to bring into building a similar art here as an owner?

Speaker 2

10:34

Absolutely. You know, I started out with the national team in 2005. I think we were barely pushing 5000 fans. And that was for a really long time. And I would say things really started to build around the 2011 World Cup. We actually lost but when we came home to America, it was as if we had one I mean, you know, the the American people were cheering for us and we couldn't quite understand it because we felt like we let our country down. And then you know, you fast forward to 2015 and you know, it was just like everything, everything aligned and everything just couldn't have happened at a more perfect time, you know, for the national team for women's soccer for the country. And so, you know, we've been riding that wave. And when I see some of the NWSL teams, you know, who have been struggling with attendance and all of these things, you know, it does take time, I think that's what we we have to understand, but it also takes money and investment on the other hand, so you know, when you're saying that the spirit was you know, sold for you know, 35 or whatever million you said, you know, money pays, you know, and that's what we kind of need to see. So, if we can get the support, you know, then there's there's going to be more resources that are going to be provided there's going to be better you know, playing conditions and, and travel and all of that. So, I like what I'm seeing, you know, all across the league, you know, the expansion teams that come in have, you know, pushed everyone else to be better as well. So it's exciting times,

Speaker 1

12:17

and then just is five years from now a sold out Red Bull at every match something that you think about, you know, how do you quantify it when you think about like, what success looks like, from an ownership perspective?

Speaker 2

12:33

You know, for me it starts on the field. When you win, and when you score goals, and you dominate. People love that, you know, people don't necessarily go to games when you know teams are losing. So that for me is the first and foremost you know, you have to put a good product out there. You have to win games, you have to compete for championships, and that's that's ultimately where it starts. So it's the players responsibility. It's coach's responsibility, you know, it's ownership. It's GM. It's everybody to put you know, put the best team together possible out on the field. And so yeah, with with everything else with the product and with the investment and the support and the resources. Yeah, I could see that in the next five years. I mean, I would I would love to see a sold out, you know, packed Red Bull. I've played there when it's been sold out, you know, and it's it's electrifying. It's amazing. So, there's, there's a lot of goals. You know, Rome wasn't built in, in a day. So things do take time and when you try to do things, the right way, they take a little bit longer but I'm all for it. You know, I have to fully fully believe in something to back something and this this club is is going in the right direction.

Speaker 1

14:00

So I just my last two on that. And somebody who has covered sold out Red Bull Arena. That shouldn't be fun to say I look forward to that very much but your your soccer itch, the actual play? Is it gone? Is it are you playing casually? Are you playing at home like what do you do with that? When those feelings come up? Or do they not come up?

Speaker 2

14:27

To be completely honest? No. I mean, I haven't aside from my clinics aside from attending one of golf MFCs training session. I haven't touched a ball you know, and I haven't really desired to touch a ball I've been doing a lot of other things, kayaking, you know, getting out on my bike. Still working out. I'm still running, doing hikes, you know, just just doing a lot of other things that I wasn't able to do. I'll always love soccer. You know, soccer was a part of my life. For 34 years. It's given me everything you know, there's there's so many priceless things that that I owe to the round ball that I've kicked around for so long. But now I am at my 17 Professional years i i emptied every ounce I was probably in my reserves. I gave it everything I had and I think there's no better feeling than being able to walk away from a sport and you know, not really not really miss it and kind of enjoy this face.

Speaker 1

15:31

I'm happy for you. I'm glad. I'm glad you're getting to. And then the other part of this is just I remember standing with you in the rain after your first game of what was then sky blue. And you just talked about the project and about building it long term and things have come so far over that period of time. I'm wondering how meaningful it is for you to be able to see it through the way you're talking about and specifically to be able to see it through here in Jersey, you know, which is obviously a place that means I know so much to you.

Speaker 2

16:02

Yeah, I mean, you know, there I wasn't around in the earlier skyblue days when you know there was a lot that was said and done and happened and I was always kind of a minimalist, you know, I was always a player who, you know, just wanted to play I just wanted to play and I wanted to have a great training environment and compete and you know, try to win championships and I think, you know, definitely fighting for the right things the things that matter. The things that are important. Have you know have have gone over well with with certain teams I think there's been a lot that has kind of happened with Sky Blue and now into golf and FC and across the league as a whole and I think it's been really just eye opening for a lot of teams, a lot of owners to really take a step back and figure out the just the right way of doing things. And, you know, I think that's the most important thing. So it's it's really great to see, there's still a lot of growth that needs to happen. But, you know, the the most promising thing is it's heading in the right direction. And I felt that towards the end of last season.

Speaker 1

17:19

Well and again, this is to so many in so many ways become a player's league right. I mean, you know, this is, in a lot of ways the club extension of the fight that you've been waging for years on equal pay on the national team side, but you know, between the fact that there is no union here, the fact that there is a CBA which we've never had in NWSL before now there is you know, a legendary player in the owners box it feels to the outside like almost coming full circle and I just I wonder whether it feels that way to you too.

Speaker 2

17:53

It does and you know, I think you have to be kind of careful. You know, you don't you don't want this to fully just be a player's league where they're making all decisions and whatever they want they get, because I don't I don't believe in that as well. Even when I was a player. You know, there's there's certain things that from a player standpoint is very vital and very important. But then there's also things from an ownership standpoint that you just can't you just can't waver. And so I think that the most important thing is just prioritizing what is important. The fact that there is a union collective bargaining agreement, HR in the league, I mean, you know these things these things should have been there from day one, but they weren't. And so now we're almost kind of building building this from from scratch essentially the way that it should have been, but it's good you know, it's it's good time. For women, women in sports, and the more people we can continue to get involved, the better the overall league will be.

Speaker 1

19:01

No doubt. Is there any aspect of this new venture that we haven't touched on that you want to make sure that we do I just don't want to be limited by what I'm asking you I don't think so. Brian no good they're not

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