Columbus has built a reputation as one of America’s great sports cities. At 5 p.m. on Monday, April 20, Columbus City Council will vote on what could be the most meaningful expansion of that legacy in a generation.
Council members will vote on a development agreement that would position Columbus as a serious contender for the 18th franchise of the National Women’s Soccer League. The deal — revised in response to public hearings and community feedback — represents the city’s formal bid to bring professional women’s soccer home.
As of March, around a dozen markets were competing for the 18th NWSL franchise, according to league commissioner Jessica Berman. Columbus is among the primary cities in contention, but nothing is guaranteed, and the vote on Monday is a critical signal to the league that the city is ready.
What the Deal Is
The agreement before Council involves a partnership between the City of Columbus, Franklin County, and a private ownership group comprised of the Haslam Sports Group — majority owners of the Columbus Crew and Cleveland Browns — alongside Nationwide and Crew co-owners Dr. Pete and Dr. Christine Edwards.
The ownership group is planning to invest more than $300 million in the team. A $25 million contribution from the City would help fund a training facility at McCoy Park. The City’s contribution will be repaid through a 2% ticket tax on events at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field over ten to twenty years, after which the tax would remain as a permanent revenue stream for the city.
The structure of the deal is not incidental. A public-private partnership is an NWSL requirement — cities cannot compete for a franchise without one. The League also requires that women’s facilities match or exceed the men’s in their market, a standard designed to ensure female athletes are treated as equals.
Why This Is Good for Columbus
The case for this deal goes well beyond soccer.
Proponents have emphasized job creation and revenue benefits. A professional sports franchise brings with it year-round economic activity — jobs, ticket sales, hospitality, merchandising, sponsorships and the downstream spending of fans who fill restaurants, hotels and businesses on game days.
Benefits also extend beyond economics. Mayor Ginther has said he wants to make Columbus the nation’s capital for women’s sports, and a new NWSL team would go a long way toward that goal.
For the women and girls of this city, the stakes are personal. Maggie Oliphint, a Whetstone High School varsity soccer player, put a number on the gap she sees every day. “Out of the 16 high schools in the district that offer athletics, only five have girls soccer teams, and none of those have JV squads,” she told Council. “All 16 have boys soccer teams. This disparity is not because of a lack of interest. It’s because of a lack of infrastructure and inspiration.”
Student Success Stores, a nonprofit serving Columbus City Schools and Whitehall City Schools, has benefited from the MLS’s presence in Columbus. In support of expanding sports in Columbus through an NWSL team, executive director Bri Lohse said, “The Crew has been and continues to be an exceptional ambassador for Student Success Stores and the students we serve. And it isn’t just about sports. It’s about the tangible social and economic impact on the families we serve every day.”
Paula Quartey, who works with Columbus’s immigrant and refugee community, noted that the team’s reach would extend far beyond traditional soccer families to the daughters of immigrants and refugees for whom soccer is not just a sport but a language. “When we talk about women in sports, we are talking about more than just the competition. We’re talking about access, identity and belonging.”
The Competition Is Real
Some opponents of the deal have said they support women’s soccer but oppose the use of public funds or the site plan involving McCoy Park. Both Mayor Ginther and Council President Hardin have expressed their belief that those concerns deserve to be heard and addressed.
Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker, whose company is among the bid’s key partners, addressed those concerns directly. “Nationwide, along with our NWSL bid partners, understand the concerns about McCoy Park and we are committed to finding a path forward that preserves access to parks and green space for kids and families,” Walker said. “Our goal has always been to help bring a women’s professional soccer team to Columbus in a way that strengthens the community.”
Opposition to the terms of this specific deal should not be confused with opposition to the opportunity itself. The question before Columbus City Council on Monday is not whether this deal is perfect. The question is whether Columbus wants to be in the game, or whether it is willing to watch another city say yes.
“It’s competitive, and we still need to win,” said Mary Shepro of the Columbus Crew. “That is the reality of where things stand. The NWSL is not waiting for Columbus to get comfortable. Other cities are moving. Other ownership groups are organized. A no vote, or even a delayed vote, is not a pause. It is a signal to the league that Columbus is not ready for this team.”
Columbus Has Always Shown Up
The city has a track record that speaks for itself. Columbus saved the Crew when relocation threatened to strip the city of its MLS team. It drew 94,751 fans to Ohio Stadium for an NHL game, the second-largest crowd in league history. It set an attendance record at the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship. It has packed ScottsMiracle-Gro Field for the US Women’s National Team.
Columbus shows up. For men’s sports and women’s sports. For its teams and its community. The question on Monday is whether its elected officials will do the same.
The women and girls of this city are watching. So are the other cities competing for this team.
Monday is the moment. The vote is at 5 p.m. at Columbus City Hall. To take action in support of the NWSL coming to Columbus, visit nwsltocbus.com/hearing.
