It’s official: Columbus will get the 18th National Women’s Soccer League team.
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, private investors and local government officials announced the expansion franchise on April 21 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, where the unnamed women’s team will play.
Here’s what we know and don’t know about the team:
When will the Columbus women’s soccer team begin play?
The Columbus team is set to begin playing in the league in 2028, at the same time as a new team in Atlanta.
What will the mascot and team name be for the Columbus NWSL team?
The franchise is being referred to as Columbus NWSL 2028 until an official team name, colors and crest are selected with input from fans across Ohio, according to a press release.
How to get Columbus NWSL tickets
People interested in tickets can place a $28 deposit per seat online at www.columbusnwsl2028.com.
Who are the owners of the new team?
The new NWSL team’s ownership is led by Crew and Cleveland Browns majority owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam. The ownership group also includes Nationwide Insurance and Crew minority-owners Dr. Pete Edwards and Dr. Christine Edwards.
Where will the Columbus NWSL team play and practice?
The new team will play its home games at ScottsMiracleGro-Field, sharing the stadium with MLS’ Crew.
A new training facility will be built for the women’s club at McCoy Park on the city’s Southwest Side. It will be modeled after the Crew’s facility, and it was a requirement for the city’s bid to be selected.
The use of McCoy Park, which is located in one of the city’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods and was scheduled for extensive renovations, has drawn backlash from residents. The ownership group says Mayor Andrew Ginther’s administration told them the park was available.
In a last-minute amendment, Columbus City Council tied its investment in the facilities to the quick replacement of McCoy Park.
How much will the owners pay for the team?
The Dispatch has confirmed that the Columbus ownership group paid a $205 million expansion fee to the NWSL, a league record. ESPN, which first reported the figure, also noted that five years ago, the fee to join the league was $2 million.
How much public money is going to the team?
Franklin County and Columbus will each contribute $25 million toward the construction of the training facility and upgrades to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
The county and city will take out bonds to make their contributions. The county will pay its part back with non-tax fees and the city will pay its part back with a 2% ticket tax at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
As part of the public-private deal, the private ownership group has agreed to invest $3 million in a new park to replace McCoy Park and invest $12 million into the county over 12 years, with those funds being focused on early childhood education, workforce development and food insecurity.
Why Columbus?
According to Berman, the NWSL was in active conversations with “more than a dozen” other ownership groups before Columbus was awarded the 18th franchise. She said the league considered three main factors – ownership, infrastructure and market – and Columbus reached the league’s benchmarks in all three areas.
“We’ve seen the way this community embraces its sports teams, and in particular soccer,” Berman said. “So, when people ask ‘Why Columbus?’ I don’t think you need to look further than to see the storied history of the Columbus Crew.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: NWSL in Columbus: What to know about the league’s 18th franchise
Reporting by Brianna Mac Kay and Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
