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The National Women’s Soccer League awarded Columbus the league’s 18th franchise Tuesday for a record expansion fee of $205 million, according to multiple reports.
Along with an expansion side in Atlanta, the club is set to debut in 2028.
The team will play at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, the current venue of Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew SC. Haslam Sports Group, which owns the Crew, leads the expansion side’s ownership group.
According to ESPN, the ownership group will pay a record expansion fee of $205 million. Furthermore, according to ESPN, the stadium will be renovated to “add a custom locker room for the NWSL team.”
The league’s announcement comes one day after Columbus City Council approved a proposal for a professional women’s soccer team to come to the city, including $25 million to fund a new nearby training facility.
Denver Summit and Boston Legacy both debuted as NWSL expansion sides in 2026. Denver broke the league’s single-match attendance record in its inaugural home opener March 29.
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