With the NWSL expected to select the league’s 16th team before the end of this year, Cleveland’s chances of bringing professional women’s soccer to the city have grown after a local ownership group secured land for a downtown stadium.
Cleveland Soccer Group (CSG), the group behind the city’s NWSL expansion bid, and the Cleveland Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners recently announced the purchase of 13.6 acres of state land to build a $150million (£114.3m), 12,500-seat stadium on what is currently undeveloped land in the city’s downtown.
“It’s really where Clevelanders have been going for the last 30 years to enjoy professional sports,” Michael Murphy, co-founder and CEO of Cleveland Soccer Group, told The Athletic last week. “It’s about a five-minute walk from (the) home plate at Progressive Field, where the Guardians play in Major League Baseball, or maybe an eight-minute walk from mid-court where the Cavaliers play in the NBA.”
Big step forward for soccer in The Land! ⚽️
The Cleveland Metroparks just approved a 13.6-acre land deal for a proposed stadium, part of Cleveland Soccer Group’s efforts to secure an NWSL expansion team.
Team bid results expected later this year! pic.twitter.com/h5ukBVHtQI
— I’m From Cleveland (@ImFromCle) September…
