Peyton Manning, one of the most iconic athletes in American sports, has joined the Denver NWSL ownership group.
Denver NWSL said the addition of the Hall of Fame quarterback brings another Colorado legend into the fold as the club prepares to make its National Women’s Soccer League debut in 2026.
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is a women’s professional soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system.
The league comprises 14 teams (16 in 2026). It is owned by the teams and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (the official governing body of soccer in the United States). The NWSL is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.
Denver’s NWSL expansion team has unveiled plans for a new stadium at Santa Fe Yards in Denver. The 14,500-seat venue is set to open in Spring 2028.
The Denver NWSL team’s current home ground is a temporary stadium in Centennial, Colorado.
This stadium will be used for their first two seasons while their permanent stadium at Santa Fe Yards in Denver is being constructed. The temporary stadium in Centennial seats 12,000 fans.
Manning joins a robust Denver NWSL ownership group led by controlling owner Rob Cohen, and including investors Ariel Investments’ Project Level, Jon-Erik Borgen, Kaia Borgen Moritz, Neelima Joshi, Dhiren Jhaveri, Molly Coors, and Mikaela Shiffrin. Together, they aim to build the most inclusive and community-rooted club in professional soccer.
A five-time NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion, Manning was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Since retiring from football, he has continued to make his mark in media and business through Omaha Productions — the company behind ESPN’s Emmy-winning “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” and other widely acclaimed sports content.
Manning said “It’s a real honor to be part of something so meaningful to the Colorado community. I’m proud to support the growth of women’s sports and excited to help build a club that our city and our state can rally behind.”
Cohen said, “Peyton’s legacy as a champion and a leader is second to none. His impact on Colorado sports is unmatched, and we’re incredibly proud to have him as a partner. He brings passion, insight, and deep local roots — all of which will help us shape the future of Denver NWSL.”
Denver NWSL will begin play in 2026 and is preparing to break ground on a state-of-the-art performance center in Centennial, Colo.
The club also unveiled plans for a future stadium district in downtown Denver, which will represent the largest investment in women’s team sports infrastructure in history.
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