Denver named finalist for NWSL expansion slot joining Cincy, Cleveland as cities push for 16th franchise

DENVER — It’s down to three cities. Denver is much more than a contender, it is a finalist. And it’s got one helluva shot to make history.

National Women’s Soccer League commissioner Jessica Berman announced three ownership groups were finalists for the coveted 16th spot in the league: Denver, Cincinnati and Cleveland. She confirmed this Friday at a news conference in Kansas City ahead of the NWSL final on Saturday night, as the media availability almost mimicked a “state of the league address”.

“We’re really enthusiastic about the final three markets we have in the process,” Berman said in the news conference. “We’ll have news to share in the coming weeks as we look to close on one of those markets.”

Expect a decision from the NWSL by the end of 2024. Once selected, the ownership group representing the winning city will have roughly just over a calendar year to get everything about a brand-new organization in place before they kick off in the spring of 2026 along with the 15th team selected last year, Boston.

Burgundy Wave will answer some of the bigger questions readers might have about the news.

So, just how much of a big deal is it?

Well, considering Denver is the largest American city by population without a women’s professional sports team, and having missed out on the most recent round of the WNBA expansion, Denverites, the mayor included, are clamoring for a team.

“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,” Mayor Mike Johnston said in a news release. “Despite producing some of the best athletes in the world, Denver is the largest American city without a professional women’s sports team. It is past time to rectify that tragedy by welcoming the NWSL to our community, and we are excited to continue these conversations with the league.”

The sales of the Portland Thorns ($63 million) and Seattle Reign ($58 million) gave a good barometer of how much to expect a potential expansion fee to be, but then, Angel City blew that out of the water with a sale of $250 million to Disney CEO Bob Iger.

ESPN reported Friday the expansion fee alone is stretching up to $100 million. All-in with a stadium, player salaries, filling out an organization? That’s going to require some steep pockets.

Who’s behind “For Denver FC” and how’d we get here?

Ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup last July, an investor group known as “For Denver FC” — For Denver, For Colorado — launched to much fanfare in an effort to bring top-flight women’s soccer to the Mile High City. After all, the League is already chalk full of Coloradans (16 in 2024; 21 in 2022) and United States Women’s National Team stars. Those players all got their start in the Centennial State. Born-and-raised Coloradans were named the Ballon d’Or’s 4th, 5th and 6th-best players of 2024 in October (Sophia Smith, Lindsey Horan and Mallory Swanson, in case you forgot).

Lakewood native and former NWSL player Jordan Angeli, returned from her time in Columbus, Ohio, ahead of the 2023 MLS season and was ambitious from the instant she stepped down at DIA. The public face of “For Denver FC”, the Rapids’ Apple TV lead personality and NWSL color commentator got the message out about the group she’s part of loud and clear. Rounding out the group are entrepreneur Nicole Glaros of TechStars, Ben Hubbard, the CEO of insurer Parsyl; and Tom Dunmore, formerly of Major League Cricket and now VP of marketing for The Snow League, who has experience launching teams in the past with USL Championship side Indy Eleven.

Sources connected to the bid confirmed to Burgundy Wave that its lead investor is Rob Cohen, who co-led a push last year for an WNBA team in Denver, which ultimately was unsuccessful. This, however, feels like the city’s best chance to get a women’s pro sports team in years.

The “For Denver FC” group has led the charge to host watch parties for U.S. and NWSL games throughout soccer bars across the Front Range to get the word out there. The organic campaign seems to be paying off in a big way, with sizable crowds during the Olympic Games this past summer.

If chosen, where will they play and train?

While the group has not publicly announced its stadium and training facility plans yet, Burgundy Wave understands that sources connected to the bid have pushed hard for a potential stadium location in Denver proper. If you’re a Rapids fan who has taken end-of-season surveys, you’ll likely recall seeing a question or two about supporting a team inside Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

The group reportedly wanted to play at the National Western Center, but, in the last 10 days, a spokesperson said a deal was “off the table.”

As Burgundy Wave understands, while it’s a great opportunity, the For Denver FC group has never envisioned playing at DSGP. They’ve always wanted to be in the City of Denver.

Cleveland and Cincinnati, really? Yes. Don’t take ’em lightly.

While it might seem like Denver makes too much sense of a choice given its central location and relative ease to get to, its deep connections to the league (fact: a Coloradan has been drafted in every single year of the NWSL draft) and ardent support for women’s rights, the competition is still very fierce.

Being based in Chicago, this writer has no problem saying these Midwestern cities are no pushovers.

Cincinnati’s ownership group swung big on Thursday when it had added WNBA Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark to the ownership group. Not to mention, the city already has a world-class downtown stadium (TQL) which can hold 26,000 fans. Cleveland already announced it had purchased land for the site of a future soccer-specific stadium which could hold 12,000.

Still, Burgundy Wave has spoken to multiple Coloradans over the years and routinely asked about the idea of a Colorado team. Local players have done the proverbial banging of the drum since FDFC’s launch last July, posting supportive social media stories.

However, even players’ friends within league circles have routinely told the Colorado players they want Denver as the League’s next expansion choice. While they might not get a say and it’s ultimately an NWSL owner decision, the players’ voices have plenty of weight.

And those from Colorado, the captain of the USWNT, Horan, its Olympic game-winning goalscorer, Swanson, and its tour de force striker, Smith, all have spoken resoundingly in favor of their home city getting a team.

“I mean, hopefully (it happens) soon,” Swanson told local reporters earlier this summer ahead of its friendly at DSGP. “I don’t know, I’m not the one in charge to make decisions like that. But yeah, I think just the product that Colorado youth sports has produced over the years, I think it’d be super special and cool to see that.”

It’s time to make more history in the Mile High City.

Main photo curtsey of For FC Denver.

Thank you for reading Burgundy Wave. Support us via our Patreon starting at $5/month. We’re always looking for new talent. Let us know if you’re interested in covering Colorado Soccer.