Denver will likely be home to the next National Women’s Soccer League franchise, according to multiple news reports citing anonymous sources.
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The NWSL, which has 14 teams, was said to be considering Nashville, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Philadelphia in addition to Denver for its 16th franchise. League leaders were expected to perform site visits at the contending cities in October. The league narrowed its list of contenders to Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver in late November. A team in Boston has been approved but isn't yet playing.
Cleveland Pro Soccer, the group working to lure the NWSL to their city, admitted defeat in social media posts yesterday.
Sportico, The Athletic and ESPN all reported that the expansion fee will be between $105M and $120M, and underlined the fact that nothing has been finalized or will likely be announced until next year. The last record-setting expansion fee was $53M when the Bay Area and Boston teams joined the league last year.
The real estate implications of the move are unclear.
A Sports Business Journal article said For Denver FC, the Denver group lobbying league officials for the new team, aimed to construct its own stadium and that the group was considering a venue at the National Western Center.
An NWC spokesperson quickly knocked down that reporting, telling the Denver Business Journal in November that the idea was “off the table.”
For Denver FC was performing “market development and feasibility activities” surrounding sites for a stadium and training facilities, it said in a 2023 press release.
An email sent to For Denver FC’s media address was returned as not deliverable and the group did not respond to an email sent to its general inquiries inbox as of press time. Several of the group’s organizers did not respond to requests for comment.
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