NWSL Launches Team in Denver

On January 30, the NWSL announced that Denver has been awarded the league’s 16th franchise. Until the official name is finalized, the franchise will operate under the temporary name, “Denver NWSL.” The team is set to start playing in the 2026 season, along with another expansion team, which will play in Boston. 

Rob Cohen, the club’s controlling owner, was eager to bring the NWSL to Denver. The league chose Denver partly due to the momentum generated by “For Denver FC,” a grassroots movement dedicated to fostering the growth of women’s professional sports in the city. Cohen, who also founded the Denver Sports Commission, was deeply involved in this initiative and advocated for Denver to receive the NWSL expansion.  

On March 18, Denver NWSL’s ownership team and Mayor Mike Johnston announced plans to construct a purpose-built stadium. This venue will be the second stadium built specifically for a women’s professional sports team. The first is owned by the Kansas City Current, an NWSL team that joined the league in 2020. Since its grand opening in 2024, the stadium has been a massive success for the Current, selling out every game in the first season.

It’s likely that Cohen and other investors took note of the Current’s success and sought to create a similar impact in Denver. Using Denver NWSL as an example, we can expect other NWSL expansion teams to lean into purpose-built stadiums in the future. Not only does this generate additional revenue for the team, but it also makes them stand out from other women’s professional teams. 

As Denver prepares to welcome its first NWSL team, it is positioning itself at the forefront of a growing movement to invest in women’s professional sports.

Sources: 

Denver NWSL. “Denver NWSL and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston Unveil Historic Plans to Build Purpose-Built Stadium District for Professional Women’s Soccer.” Denver NWSL, March 18, 2024. https://denvernwsl.com/blogs/news/denver-nwsl-and-denver-mayor-mike-johnston-unveil-historic-plans-to-build-purpose-built-stadium-district-for-professional-women-s-soccer

NWSL. “Denver, Colorado Awarded NWSL’s 16th Franchise.” NWSL, January 30, 2024. https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/denver-colorado-awarded-nwsl-s-16th-franchise