Trending Now - Columbus to Launch New NWSL Team in 2028 for Historic Price
WHO:
The Columbus Dispatch - The ownership group for the new NWSL team includes Jimmy and Dee Haslam, Nationwide, Dr. Pete Edwards, J.W. Johnson, and Whitney Haslam Johnson.
ESPN - The ownership consortium is led by the Haslam Sports Group.
WHAT:
The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus was awarded its 18th franchise in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
The Columbus Dispatch - The Columbus ownership group paid a record $205 million expansion fee to the NWSL.
The Columbus Dispatch - The franchise will be referred to as Columbus NWSL 2028 until an official name is selected.
The Columbus Dispatch - The ownership group will invest more than $300 million to establish the franchise.
WHERE:
The Columbus Dispatch - The new NWSL team will play its home games at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio.
The Columbus Dispatch - A new training facility will be built at McCoy Park in Columbus, Ohio.
WHEN:
The Columbus Dispatch - The Columbus City Council meeting on April 20th, 2026, was contentious and the deal narrowly passed 5-3 with one abstention.
The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus will host its first NWSL event on June 26th, 2026, when Gotham FC and Kansas City Current play in the league’s Challenge Cup.
The Columbus Dispatch - The Columbus NWSL team is expected to debut in 2028.
The Columbus Dispatch - The NWSL announced the franchise award on April 21st, 2026.
The Columbus Dispatch - The Columbus City Council meeting took place on April 20th, 2026.
WHY:
The Columbus Dispatch - The expansion to Columbus is seen as a natural next step for the NWSL due to the city's rich soccer tradition and support for women's sports.
The Columbus Dispatch - The public contributions from the city and county were necessary to complete the bid for the NWSL team.
HOW:
The Columbus Dispatch - The private ownership group has agreed to invest $3 million in a new park and $12 million back into Franklin County over a 12-year period focused on early childhood education, workforce development, and food insecurity.
The Columbus Dispatch - The deal requires the team to stay in Columbus for 25 years or face financial penalties.
The Columbus Dispatch - The city and county will each contribute $25 million for the new training facility and upgrades to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, funded through bonds.
The Columbus Dispatch - The city will repay its debt with a 2% ticket tax on all events at the soccer stadium, while the county will use fees and other non-tax revenue.
(UPDATED April 22, 2026 04:00 UTC)
The Columbus City Council meeting on Monday was contentious, but a deal to bring a professional soccer team to the city narrowly passed with a vote of five to three and one abstention. As part of the agreement, the private ownership group will invest $3 million in a new park and $12 million into Franklin County over the next 12 years, focusing on early childhood education, workforce development, and food insecurity, while also committing to keep the team in Columbus for 25 years or face financial penalties. Columbus is set to host its first NWSL event June 26th, featuring Gotham FC and Kansas City Current in the league’s Challenge Cup.
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(UPDATED April 21, 2026 23:14 UTC)
Columbus has officially been awarded its 18th franchise in the National Women's Soccer League, with the ownership group led by the Haslam Sports Group, which includes Jimmy and Dee Haslam, Nationwide, Dr. Pete Edwards, J.W. Johnson, and Whitney Haslam Johnson. The group paid a record $205 million expansion fee and plans to invest over $300 million to establish the franchise, which will play its home games at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field and is expected to debut in 2028. The city and county will each contribute $25 million for a new training facility and upgrades to the stadium, with funding sourced through bonds and a 2% ticket tax on events at the soccer stadium.