United Soccer League Adds Weatherford Capital as Strategic Partner
USL United Soccer League Championship

United Soccer League Adds Weatherford Capital as Strategic Partner

Published on February 26, 2026 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - The United Soccer League (USL), the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, today announced that Weatherford Capital, a private investment firm headquartered in Tampa, has joined BellTower Partners' strategic investment in the league. Weatherford Capital will provide deep sports expertise, a broad national network, and operational insight to advance the USL's multi-tier men's and women's ecosystem.

"Weatherford Capital is an ideal partner for the USL," said Alec Papadakis, Chief Executive Officer of the United Soccer League. "They bring extensive experience across the sports landscape and a disciplined investment approach. Through their work with leading institutions, teams, and platforms, they understand both the business of sports and its impact in communities, and are highly respected and admired in Tampa Bay. Alongside BellTower, their belief in what we're building reinforces our vision for the league and the path we're charting for professional soccer in the United States."

This investment comes during a period of significant momentum for the USL. The league recently announced USL Premier as the official name of its new Division One men's professional league, set to launch in 2028 as part of an interconnected three-tier system that will introduce promotion and relegation for the first time in American soccer or any major U.S. professional sport. The USL's Gainbridge Super League continues to grow in its second season, while new teams and stadium-anchored developments are underway in markets nationwide.

"We are pleased to welcome Weatherford Capital as a partner in USL," said Kewsong Lee, Founder and CEO of BellTower Partners and Vice Chair of the USL Board. "As institutional capital continues to flow into sports globally, USL's scale, structure, and long-term growth profile position it as a compelling platform at the intersection of sports, community development, and investment. The league's multi-tier model and national reach make it an attractive opportunity for investors as professional soccer continues to expand in the United States."

Founded in 2015 by Drew, Sam, and Will Weatherford, Weatherford Capital is a private investment firm with more than $1 billion in assets under management and offices in Tampa, Dallas, and Chicago. The firm invests across technology, financial services, business services, sports, and public-sector markets, with a focus on mission-driven platforms positioned to scale over time. USL marks Weatherford Capital's latest sports investment, joining a portfolio that includes IMG Academy, a leading sports education institution; a minority stake in the Tampa Bay Rays; Collegiate Athletic Solutions (CAS), which provides strategic capital to collegiate athletic programs; and Curve Sports, a youth baseball platform that unifies coaching, athlete development, and performance testing

"As a Tampa-based firm, we've seen firsthand how professional sports can transform a community and create lasting economic value, " said Drew Weatherford, Founding Partner of Weatherford Capital and co-founder of Collegiate Athletic Solutions. "Sports is completing its transition into a core institutional asset class, and soccer in the United States is one of the most compelling opportunities within that shift. The USL's scale, multi-tier structure, and national reach give it a differentiated long-term growth profile, and we look forward to supporting the league as it enters its defining era."

BellTower Partners made its initial strategic investment in the USL in September 2025, when Lee joined the USL Board as Vice Chair. Initial investors included Advaya Capital, a data analytics-focused investment firm, as well as significant family offices and ultra-high net worth individuals. Weatherford Capital's participation further broadens the league's investor base at a time when institutional capital is accelerating around soccer in the United States, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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