If Cleveland lands a National Women's Soccer League expansion team, team owners are looking to build a new $150 million stadium south of downtown, as depicted in this rendering.Cleveland Soccer Group
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland is a top 3 finalist to land a women’s professional outdoor soccer team in 2026.
The city now will have to beat Cincinnati and Denver for the honor of becoming the 16th team in the National Women’s Soccer League.
“This is incredibly important given where we are in women’s sports,” says Michael Murphy, co-founder and CEO of Cleveland Pro Soccer. “For the city to grab onto to this now, we’re going to be poised to be a beneficiary of this growth in women’s sports.”
Murphy sees women’s soccer as the perfect entrée to women’s sports for Cleveland. Because Cleveland lacks a men’s soccer team, the women’s team would be the city’s soccer brand. Cleveland is also vying for the WBNA to return to the city, with a 16th franchise, set for 2028.
“I think that the league in looking at Cleveland compared to the competition, and we would be a major American city that could feature women’s soccer,” Murphy said.
Cleveland showed well when league representatives came to visit.
“They were able to see why this is an incredible stadium site in the heart of our sports and entertainment district,” Murphy said. “We showed really well.”
Cleveland Pro Soccer is looking to build a $150 million stadium on 14 acres south of I-90 and Progressive Field, if the league approves the expansion team. The group is asking city, county and state governments to cover $90 million and is looking to purchase the entire campus of the recently closed Notre Dame College in South Euclid to turn it into a soccer training facility.
Cleveland Metroparks in September agreed to a $4.2 million deal with the Ohio Department of Transportation to buy the land. The price would be paid by Cleveland Pro Soccer and the Cleveland Metroparks would lease the land to a CSG-related entity to build and operate the stadium.
“The stadium will be the only the second stadium, purpose-built for a women’s professional sports team in the world,” noted Gina Kelly, Content Director for Cleveland Pro Soccer.
The first is in Kansas City, which opened this year and tomorrow will host the league championship.
Cleveland’s “Back the Bid” efforts have already generated 15,100 fans who are interested in season tickets, if Cleveland is named and a stadium built. These folks have paid $26 for a t-shirt and the rights to buy season tickets.
A group of 15 Northeast Ohio women business leaders have joined the effort as investors, although the soccer group declined to reveal the exact amount of the investment.
Meanwhile, down south, WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined Cincinnati’s bid for a National Women’s Soccer League expansion team.
The league features national team players from around the world. The current clubs are: Angel City FC, Bay FC, Boston, Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash, Kansas City Current, NJ/NY Gotham FC, North Carolina Courage, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns FC, Racing Louisville FC, San Diego Wave FC, Seattle Reign FC, Utah Royals FC and Washington Spirit.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2024).
© 2024 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.
YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here.
Ad Choices
