Columbus Gets Pro Women's Soccer Team in 2028

Columbus is rolling out the red carpet for professional women's soccer, and the welcome mat comes with a record-breaking price tag.

The National Women's Soccer League announced April 21 that Columbus will launch its 18th franchise in 2028. The Haslam Sports Group, which also owns the Columbus Crew and Cleveland Browns, paid a stunning $205 million expansion fee to bring the team to Ohio's capital.

That number tells a powerful story about women's sports. Just five years ago, the same expansion fee was $2 million. The explosive growth shows how rapidly investment in women's athletics is accelerating.

"This is a city with a rich soccer tradition, a proven track record of support at the highest level, and an ownership group making meaningful, long-term investments in women's sports," NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said. Columbus fans have proven they love soccer, regularly packing seats for Crew games at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, which will host the new women's team.

The ownership group includes insurance giant Nationwide, Crew minority-owner Dr. Pete Edwards, and managing partners J.W. and Whitney Haslam Johnson. Together, they're investing more than $300 million to launch the franchise, including a new training facility and stadium upgrades.

The city and Franklin County are each contributing $25 million for infrastructure, but the deal includes protections for taxpayers. The city will fund its portion through a 2% ticket tax on stadium events, and the team must stay for 25 years or money gets clawed back.

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches beyond the soccer pitch. The ownership group committed $12 million over 12 years to address early childhood education, workforce development, and food insecurity across the county. They're also investing $3 million in a replacement community park after concerns were raised about the original site in a disadvantaged neighborhood.

Fans across Ohio will help choose the team name, colors, and crest. Anyone interested can reserve seats with a $28 deposit, a nod to the 2028 debut year.

Columbus joins a league experiencing remarkable momentum, proving that investing in women's sports isn't just the right thing to do; it's smart business that lifts entire communities.