Denver has secured the NWSL’s sixteenth franchise at an enlargement payment of $110 million, based on a number of individuals acquainted with the matter.
Backers of the Denver bid, principally IMA Monetary Group CEO Robert Cohen, submitted their first cost to the league on Tuesday, mentioned the individuals, who have been granted anonymity as a result of the main points are personal. The $110 million enlargement payment is greater than double the earlier NWSL file for brand spanking new groups and can be the largest enlargement payment ever paid in U.S. ladies’s sports activities.
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Sportico that Denver was in unique talks with the league, however the NWSL has but to publicly remark. The group will doubtless decide to spending a specific amount of {dollars} in launching the workforce. Sixth Road-owned Bay FC, which began play in 2024, pledged a dedication at launch, which included a $53 million enlargement payment.
Denver’s NWSL bid group is led by Cohen, who’s supplying a good portion of the financing and could be the workforce’s management proprietor. Former Obama administration official Ben Hubbard, who’s the CEO of Denver-based insurance coverage firm Parsyl; sports activities enterprise government Tom Dunmore; Phos CEO Nicole Glaros and former NWSL participant/present league analyst Jordan Angeli are additionally a part of the group.
Different buyers are nonetheless approaching board, one of many sources mentioned. The group has mentioned it plans to construct its personal soccer-specific stadium however will play in a brief venue till that’s prepared.
Denver was one in every of three finalists for the sixteenth NWSL spot, alongside teams from Cleveland () and Cincinnati (MLS membership Cincinnati FC).
The remainder of the enlargement payment can be paid in tranches, Sportico beforehand reported.
The NWSL added two groups this previous season: the Utah Royals and Bay FC. A Boston-based membership will be a part of the league in 2026; it agreed to pay the identical $53 million enlargement payment as Bay FC. Utah had beforehand had an NWSL franchise and owned a .
Latest WNBA enlargement groups in Toronto and the Bay Space agreed to pay $50 million, with a bunch in Portland paying a barely increased payment.
The worth of NWSL groups has exploded lately, with latest gross sales valuing Angel Metropolis FC at $250 million and San Diego Wave at $113 million. The common membership is price , based on Sportico’s September workforce valuations. It was up 57% from the prior 12 months.
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