Women’s pro soccer venue for Cleveland

Article posted by Coliseum, May 2^nd, 2025

Image: Cleveland Pro Soccer

A new women’s professional soccer team will play at Cleveland Soccer Group’s (CSG) planned 10,000-seat South Gateway Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland Pro Soccer said the team, launching in 2027 as part of WPSL Pro—a brand-new Division II league built to elevate the game and expand opportunity in U.S. women’s soccer, will play at the stadium.

WPSL Pro, the newest professional league in the U.S. soccer pyramid, will officially launch as a Division II women’s professional league in 2026 filling a critical player development gap in the U.S. women’s soccer system.

CSG will field a WPSL Pro team as a founding club and invest in the league itself, leading the league’s initial funding round.

The franchise will join early markets including Atlanta, Dallas, North Carolina, Oklahoma City, Sioux Falls, and the San Francisco area – underscoring the league’s commitment to high-potential, soccer-savvy communities ready to build professional soccer from the ground up.

The announcement follows CSG’s competitive bid to join the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and reaffirms Cleveland’s commitment to leading the growth of women’s soccer.

Gina Prodan Kelly, CMO of CSG, said, “We had a remarkable campaign for women’s soccer last year and proved Cleveland is a powerful market for a pro team.

“WPSL Pro gives us the opportunity to do it right—for our fans, for Cleveland, and for the future of the game.”

Founded in 2022, Cleveland Soccer Group is focused on bringing both men’s and women’s professional soccer to Cleveland and growing the game across Northeast Ohio.

After securing rights to launch an MLS NEXT Pro men’s team, CSG expanded its efforts with a bid to bring a professional women’s team to the city. CSG garnered over 16,000 season ticket pledges, positioning the city for an exciting future in professional soccer.

The new women’s team will play in a new state-of-the-art venue which, if approved, will be home to both men’s and women’s professional soccer teams, alongside a diverse line-up of other events that will drive community engagement and economic growth.

The $50 million project is expected to be developed on 14 acres of land in partnership with Cleveland Metroparks.

The stadium will become a hub for sports, recreation, and community events, positioned to strengthen Cleveland’s downtown while providing new connections to surrounding neighborhoods through the city’s growing trail network.

The South Gateway Stadium, which would be located just south of Rocket Arena and Progressive Field, would sit alongside RTA’s rapid lines setting for future multi-modal transportation and development opportunities.

The South Gateway Stadium is envisioned to host over 60 events annually, including professional soccer matches for both men’s and women’s teams.

In addition, the venue is designed to accommodate a wide variety of sports and events, from local high school and university competitions to community celebrations and concerts.

CSG believes the stadium’s 10,000-seat capacity and versatile design will also attract new leagues and events to Cleveland, including those that might have otherwise overlooked the region.

This includes everything from women’s professional rugby to concerts and other major sporting events.

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