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For years, Disney CEO Bob Iger was incredibly popular with Disney fans. During his original 15-year tenure, Disney acquired Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox. He was also responsible for opening the Shanghai Disneyland Resort in 2016. He even managed to re-acquire the rights to Walt Disney’s original animated character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
It was a great time for Disney, and fans were disappointed when Iger stepped down as CEO in February 2020. And their disappointment quickly turned to anger at new Disney CEO Bob Chapek.
Credit: Disney
Related: Fired Disney CEO Bob Chapek Rips Bob Iger’s Plans For Company
Disney did not do very well under Bob Chapek’s leadership, and he was fired after less than three years as CEO. In November 2022, Bob Iger stepped back into the CEO role, and fans were hopeful things would change. Unfortunately, things have not gone as planned, and Iger is now struggling to regain his former popularity.
Focusing on Non-Disney Interests
Despite spending most of his working life in the ABC or Disney family, Bob Iger is the ultimate businessman and is keenly aware of the importance of diversifying his interests. And Iger and his wife, Willow Bay, have taken another step out of the Disney box with their newest acquisition of a popular team in the National Women’s Soccer League.
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Related: Bob Iger Makes Big Reversal In Chapek-Era Changes
On July 17, Chapek and Bay gained the controlling stake in the Angel City Football Club — a club that is considered the most valuable women’s sports team in the world.
Bay, Dean of the USC Annenberg School of Journalism, and the Disney CEO nearly doubled the value of the franchise with a pre-capital valuation of $250 million and an investment of over $50 million. Even before the investment, the club was considered the worlds most valuable women’s sports franchise.
Bay will control the ACFC Board of Directors, and serve as the controlling owner for National Women’s Soccer League purposes and represent Angel City on the organization’s Board of Governors.
Credit: Angel City
Iger is not the only major shareholder whose name people are sure to recognize. Other prominent Angel City FC shareholders are Thor (2011) star Natalie Portman (who actually launched the Football Club), Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, and soccer legend Mia Hamm.
Struggles at Disney
Over the past few years — mainly after the COVID-19 pandemic hit — things at Disney theme parks have really changed, and a lot of guests don’t think it’s for the better.
In 2021, Disney, under Bob Chapek, announced that it would be getting rid of the complimentary Magical Express bus service and the free FastPass system. Now, if guests want to wait in a shorter queue, they have to shell out nearly $40 per person per day for Disney Genie+.
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Related: Once Free Disney World Offerings That Are No More
Each of Disney World’s four theme parks has at least one attraction that is not a part of Genie+ and charges an additional fee for guests who want to wait in the Lightning Lane (formerly the FastPass line).
However, later this month, Disney will be overhauling its controversial Genie+ system. Guests will no longer have to purchase Disney Genie+ the day they want to use it. They can purchase the service before their Walt Disney World Resort vacation. They will then be able to pre-book up to three rides in advance, similar to how the free FastPass+ program worked.
Credit: Disney
Related: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Breaks 87-Year Disney Tradition
Iger is also dealing with the wrath of fans who are angry at Disney’s decision to close one of its most iconic attractions, Splash Mountain. The announcement was made in 2020, and despite the backlash, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened in the Magic Kingdom on June 28. The new Princess and the Frog (2009) attraction will open at Disneyland Park later this year.
Fans were hoping that Iger’s return would usher in the magic of what Disney used to be. However, he has made very few moves away from the changes Bob Chapek made, and fans are frustrated, to say the least.
Are you surprised to hear about Bob Iger’s interest in women’s sports? Let us know in the comments!
