November 22nd 2024.
For several years now, Colorado has been a hotbed for top-tier talent in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). And it looks like the league is finally ready to give back by awarding an expansion franchise to the Mile High City.
In a news conference on Friday, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman announced that Denver is one of the three finalists for the coveted expansion team spot. Speaking to reporters before the championship match in Kansas City on Saturday, Berman confirmed that the three hopeful ownership groups are Denver, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. This news comes after two other cities, Nashville and Philadelphia, were eliminated from the race, leaving only three contenders.
"We are very excited about the final three cities in consideration," Berman stated. "We will have some exciting news to share in the coming weeks as we finalize our decision."
The group leading the bid for Denver, known as "For Denver FC," is headed by former NWSL player and Colorado Rapids' Apple TV personality, Jordan Angeli. Joining her are Ben Hubbard, CEO of insurer Parsyl, and Tom Dunmore, VP of marketing for The Snow League and experienced in launching teams in the past with USL Championship side Indy Eleven. According to a source connected to the bid, the primary investor for the Denver group is Rob Cohen, who also co-led the city's unsuccessful attempt to secure a WNBA franchise in the league's most recent round of expansion.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston expressed his enthusiasm for bringing an NWSL team to the city, saying in a news release, "Denverites are the most passionate fan base in the country, and we are beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to bring an NWSL team to our city. It's time to rectify the fact that Denver, despite producing some of the best athletes in the world, is the largest American city without a professional women's sports team. We are excited to continue our conversations with the league and make this happen."
The two other cities competing for the NWSL bid, Cincinnati and Cleveland, are also putting forth strong efforts to land the expansion team. Cincinnati made headlines when WNBA star Caitlin Clark was confirmed to be an investor in their ownership group, while Cleveland has their eyes on a potential stadium site.
The NWSL has been rapidly expanding in recent years, adding four new teams since 2021, including Louisville, Los Angeles, San Diego, and the return of original hubs in Kansas City and Utah. The winning city for this upcoming expansion round will begin play in 2026.
With the expansion fees for the previous two teams, Boston and Bay FC, totaling $53 million, it's been reported that this fee could potentially reach $100 million for the next expansion. This shows the growing popularity and value of the NWSL and women's professional sports as a whole.
Currently, there are 16 Coloradans playing in the NWSL, with three of them on the rosters for Saturday's championship match between the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit. The game will take place at CPKC Park, the country's first women's soccer-specific stadium.
At the recent Women's Ballon d'Or awards ceremony in Paris, Colorado and USWNT stars Sophia Smith, Lindsey Horan, and Mallory Pugh finished fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively, in the voting for the best women's soccer player in the world for 2021.
The For Denver FC group has also made a strong community presence since its launch in July 2023, hosting watch parties for USWNT and NWSL games at various bars throughout the city. It's clear that Denver is eager and ready to welcome an NWSL team with open arms.
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