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Denver NWSL team

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Denver NWSL team
FoundedJanuary 30, 2025; 4 months ago (January 30, 2025)
StadiumCentennial Stadium
Owner(s)Robert Cohen[a]
LeagueNational Women's Soccer League
Websitedenvernwsl.com

The Denver NWSL team is a future American professional soccer team based in Denver, Colorado, that will compete in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) starting in 2026. It was founded as an expansion team on January 30, 2025.

History

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In July 2023, an investment group called For Denver FC, led by former soccer player Jordan Angeli, sports executive Tom Dunmore, and insurance executive Ben Hubbard, announced their plans to bid for a franchise in the NWSL or USL Super League.[1] They were joined by IMA Financial Group CEO Robert Cohen and venture capitalist Nicole Glaros.[2] Other members of the ownership group included Mellody Hobson and Jason Wright of Ariel Investments.[3] For Denver FC had been founded in 2022 as a grassroots group and organized outreach events, including watch parties for the United States women's national team during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[4] In November 2024, the NWSL announced that Denver was one of three finalists, alongside Cincinnati and Cleveland, to become the league's 16th team which would begin play in 2026.[5]

Denver was officially awarded the expansion bid by NWSL on January 30, 2025, and will join as the league's 16th team in the 2026 season.[6] The ownership group, led by finance executive Rob Cohen, was reported by media outlets to have paid a league-record expansion fee of $110 million.[7][8]

They are the first professional women's sports team in Colorado since the Colorado Xplosion of the American Basketball League folded in 1998.[4]

On February 19, 2025, the ownership announced that a name vote would take place with the following six names: Denver Peak FC, Colorado 14ers FC, Colorado Summit FC, Denver Elevate FC, Denver FC, and Denver Gold FC.[9]

On May 6, 2025, alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin joined the team's ownership group.[10] On June 3, 2025, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning also joined the ownership group.[11]

Stadium

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The team plans to build its own 14,500-seat soccer-specific stadium at Santa Fe Yards in Denver's Baker neighborhood, which would be completed in 2028.[12][13]

In March 2025, the team announced plans to build a temporary stadium at Potomac Street and Fremont Avenue in Centennial that would be used for their first two seasons.[14] It would have 12,000 seats for use by the NWSL team before it is downsized into a 4,000-seat venue for school sports.[15] The stadium would be on the grounds of the permanent training facilities in Centennial, which are planned to include eight soccer fields on 43 acres (17 ha), with $25 million in financing primarily provided by the Cherry Creek School District.[16][15] The training center would be adjacent to the team headquarters and training facilities of the Denver Broncos. Dick's Sporting Goods Park, the home of the Colorado Rapids, was ruled out of serious consideration early in the process.[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ Other members of the ownership group include Peyton Manning and Mikaela Shiffrin.

References

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  1. ^ Carlisle, Jeff (July 11, 2023). "Investors seek NWSL or USL Super League team for Denver". ESPN. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Carlisle, Jeff (December 17, 2024). "Denver group in exclusive talks for next NWSL franchise". ESPN. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Anzidei, Melanie (January 30, 2025). "Inside Denver's winning NWSL bid: How grassroots and confidence beat stadium plans and Caitlin Clark". The Athletic. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Newman, Kyle (January 30, 2025). "How Denver landed NWSL franchise to bring women's professional sports back to Colorado". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  5. ^ Ploen, Brendan (November 22, 2024). "Denver named finalist for National Women's Soccer League expansion team alongside Cincinnati, Cleveland". The Denver Post. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  6. ^ "Denver, Colorado Awarded NWSL's 16th Franchise" (Press release). National Women's Soccer Association. January 30, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  7. ^ Vertelney, Seth (January 30, 2025). "NWSL awards Denver expansion franchise". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Novy-Williams, Eben (January 2, 2025). "Denver Group Secures NWSL Team at Record $110M Expansion Fee". Sportico. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  9. ^ West, Jenna. "NWSL's Denver expansion franchise unveils six possible team names, asks fans to vote" – via NYTimes.com.
  10. ^ "Mikaela Shiffrin joins Denver NWSL's ownership group". The Denver Post. May 6, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  11. ^ "Peyton Manning joins Denver NWSL ownership group". The Denver Post. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  12. ^ Whitley, Morgan (March 18, 2025). "Photos: Denver NWSL to build new 14,500 seat soccer stadium". KDVR. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  13. ^ Parkins, Katie (March 18, 2025). "Denver National Women's Soccer League to build 14,500-seat stadium at Santa Fe Yards". Denver 7. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  14. ^ Newman, Kyle (March 27, 2025). "Denver NWSL team announces plans for training facility, stadium in Centennial". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  15. ^ a b Prentzel, Olivia (March 27, 2025). "Temporary home for women's pro soccer team will become permanent pitch for Cherry Creek schools". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  16. ^ Carlisle, Jeff (March 27, 2025). "NWSL: Denver announces plans for training center, temporary stadium". ESPN. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
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