DENVER (KDVR) — The Cherry Creek School District is working with the National Women’s Soccer League to potentially create more fields that both the national team and the district can use.
The NWSL is coming to Denver with a new team and a new stadium. However, the stadium in Denver won’t be finished until 2028. In the meantime, the team needs a place to practice and play when the team debuts in 2026.
Based on a new proposal, the NWSL might have a solution.
According to the Cherry Creek School District Memorandum of Understanding, the school district and the NWSL are looking into a project that benefits both parties by building new fields across approximately 31 acres of land in Centennial.
The project would include two natural grass fields and a turf field for the NWSL, along with some district uses. The project also suggests four more turf fields for shared use with the district, which includes non-tackle activities like soccer, flag football, lacrosse and other student and adult recreational sports leagues.
The project aims to create a capacity of up to approximately 15,000 temporary and 4,000 permanent seats, as well as permanent stadium facilities like locker rooms, public restrooms, concessions, press box and lighting. It also suggests site work like parking and landscaping.
If the plan goes through, the memo said the district would escrow $15 million for the development and would split the cost of the design, construction and development costs with the NWSL, which is estimated to be a total of $20-25 million.
Then, after the contract is up in a proposed two years, with a potential extension, the stadium would go to the district.
The memo said this would help the district as there would be NWSL coaching and player practices or instruction with the district’s varsity women’s soccer programs, internship opportunities for district students and apprenticeship programs.
After the agreement, the franchise would also make a financial contribution of $100,000 to Cherry Creek Schools Foundation or another district entity, and donate tickets and team memorabilia to the district.
While the memo included the plan, it’s nonbinding and the plan is still under discussion.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
