Denver NWSL Seeks Stadium funding, Following Kansas City’s Lead

Denver — April 21, 2025 —

In a move mirroring Kansas City’s success in women’s sports, Denver NWSL is seeking significant public funding for a dedicated stadium. The Denver team, set to debut in 2026, aims to secure $70 million from the city council for land acquisition and infrastructure improvements. This investment follows Kansas City’s model, potentially boosting the growth of the NWSL—and we encourage you to stay tuned for further updates.

Here’s a rewritten version of the article, focusing on clarity, flow, and highlighting the key themes:

Denver NWSL Seeks Public Funding for Stadium, Following Kansas City’s Lead in Women’s Sports Investment

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – At CPKC Stadium, the first venue in the nation built specifically for a women’s professional sports team, the Kansas City Current players are reminded of the foundation upon which their opportunity was built. As they walk onto the field, they pass a wall displaying the powerful words of Title IX: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

While title IX directly addresses educational institutions, its impact has rippled through professional sports, paving the way for teams like the Kansas city Current. The Current’s success,marked by sold-out games as their stadium’s inaugural match last year,demonstrates the growing demand for women’s sports. Even late on a Saturday night, dedicated fans gather at local spots like Friction Beer Co. to cheer on the team.

“It’s 11 p.m. here in KC and there’s still a full bar watching the game,” said Monica Bradley, a Current fan who attended the stadium’s opening.

Now, Denver aims to follow Kansas City’s lead, but faces a hurdle: securing public funding for a dedicated stadium.

Denver’s $70 Million Question

Denver NWSL, set to debut in 2026, is already making waves. The team paid a record-breaking $110 million franchise fee and quickly amassed over 10,000 season ticket deposits – the fastest and highest number in NWSL history.

While the team will initially play at a temporary venue in Centennial, plans are in place for a 14,500-seat stadium near downtown Denver by 2028. The proposed location is a vacant parcel known as Santa Fe yards.

To make this vision a reality, team owner Rob Cohen and Mayor Mike Johnston are requesting $70 million from the Denver City Council. This funding would cover land acquisition ($50 million) and infrastructure improvements ($20 million) around the stadium site, including widening Santa Fe Drive, upgrading Vanderbilt Park, and building a pedestrian bridge to the light rail station.

The Johnston administration proposes using interest from the Elevate Denver Bond Program for a meaningful portion of the funding. The city would retain ownership of the land, leasing it to the team for several decades.

However, the proposal faces skepticism from some city council members. Councilwoman Sarah Parady pointed to the current economic climate, contrasting it with the boom that fueled the construction of Coors Field in the 1990s.

Cohen argues that Denver’s promise of a stadium was key to securing the NWSL franchise. He emphasizes the commitment of the ownership group, which includes Project Level, Ariel Investments’ fund dedicated to women’s sports, and Ariel’s co-CEO Mellody Hobson.

“I can unequivocally tell you we won’t abandon this project because it’s important to our core values of what we’re trying to do,it’s important to what we believe and we made a commitment,” Cohen said.The Need for Dedicated Facilities

Jen millet, recently appointed as Denver NWSL’s first president, sees the stadium issue as a critical factor in the growth of women’s sports.She emphasizes the challenges faced by teams that are merely tenants in existing venues.

“It’s difficult for women’s sports to succeed when the majority of the clubs are tenants,” Millet said.”It’s difficult to even just get a schedule done, which makes it harder to sell tickets for fans.It’s difficult to get broadcast schedules organized as you’re not sure when you’re going to be able to play the match.”

Millet, a Denver native, joined NWSL Denver because of the ownership’s commitment to investing in a women’s team at the same level as the state’s major men’s franchises. The construction of a dedicated stadium would be a significant step towards achieving that goal.