A view of the proposed 12,500-seat soccer stadium from a video presentation about the project. This view is looking northwest toward downtown Cleveland from the south side of the Inner Belt Highway (CSG). Click on the image to enlarge.
$150 million stadium planned as South Gateway
supporters of A soccer stadium that has been proposed for many years The downtown Cleveland organization has issued renderings, videos and a request for $90 million in public sector financing to support the $150 million, 12,500-seat stadium. The application has now been made public because the project's backers are submitting bids for a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team next month, and the stadium is an integral part of that application.
The backers are led by co-founder and CEO Michael Murphy and co-founder and president Nolan Gallagher, owners of Cleveland Soccer Group.they already Earned Major League Soccer (MLS) NEXT Pro Development league teams hope to begin play in 2025 and add NWSL teams starting in 2026. The stadium could also host area college and high school football games, along with concerts and other outdoor events.
That's not all. The group is also seeking a $133 million privately funded training facility for the next MLS NEXT professional team and possibly an NWSL team. Additionally, a new station could be located at the Gateway South facility, which is located next to the shared tracks of the red, blue and green light rail lines. Here is a video presentation of the proposed stadium: available here.
South Gateway Stadium will be located just south of the Innerbelt Expressway (Interstate 90), Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, and Progressive Field. Murphy and Gallagher said the stadium would be a milestone as the country's first public-private partnership dedicated to a sports facility with women's sports at its core. The stadium is scheduled to host more than 60 diverse events annually.
“The global rise of women's sports presents a tremendous opportunity for Cleveland. The time is ripe to seize this moment,” Murphy said in a written statement. “We are making great progress and there is visible momentum. We are leveraging sport to create economic impact and inspire young female athletes for the next generation.”
Supporters of a proposed soccer stadium near downtown Cleveland have pointed out that the stadium could be used for more than just men's and women's professional, college and high school soccer teams. It can also be used for outdoor concerts (CSG).
With the NWSL's bid looming next month, Murphy said efforts to bring women's soccer to Cleveland have reached a critical juncture. A new stadium solution is a fundamental requirement for the tender.
“Two years ago, we were one of the last four out of 82 organizations nationwide that expressed interest,” he said. “That experience sent a clear message to us that without a viable soccer-centered stadium plan, there will be no top-level professional soccer opportunity in Cleveland. We've had dozens of discussions with the team. It's urgent that we put together a comprehensive stadium plan. Cleveland's window of opportunity is narrowing.”
The proposed South Gateway Stadium would be converted from unused land that had been used as a truck and train intermodal base in southern Norfolk until it was relocated to Maple Heights in the mid-1990s. A portion of the site is currently used for Progressive Field employee parking and stadium overflow parking. The addition of a high-speed rail station could alleviate some of that need. Most of the current land is owned by the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Building a soccer stadium could complete the original 1990s Gateway City development vision.That included building a soccer stadium here, but now Browns looking elsewhere. The new football stadium has a capacity of 12,500 people and could be expanded as ticket demand increases.
“Thirty years ago, local elected officials made the revolutionary decision to support Jacobs Field and Gund Arena,” Murphy said. “This decision transforms Gateway from a surface parking lot into the region's largest entertainment and hospitality destination enjoyed by millions of people each year. This will be a major step towards further building momentum for the core-to-shore development plan.”
A rendering of the pedestrian promenade from Ontario Street. On the left you will pass a soccer training facility planned to be built above ground-level retail and restaurants, and on the right you can see the soccer stadium in the distance (CSG).
The worldwide popularity of soccer and the incredible growth of women's sports have placed Cleveland at the forefront of economic opportunity. This soccer stadium is expected to generate $4.1 billion in economic activity in its first 30 years of operation. By comparison, the Women's NCAA Final Four, which sold out Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and drew a record-breaking 18.9 million viewers nationwide, generated $25 million in economic impact for Northeast Ohio.
“Cleveland is one of the greatest sports cities in America, but we lack professional women's sports,” said Laura Bloomberg, president of Cleveland State University. “The proposed venue will certainly be beneficial for intercollegiate athletics in general, and for student-athletes in particular, to have an opportunity like this in this city. It’s time to make it part of our heritage and invest in it.”
Last October, the Cleveland Soccer Group Return to bidding campaign To demonstrate local demand for women's professional sport in the region. More than 13,000 season tickets have been pledged, exceeding the venue's originally planned capacity and sending an unmistakable signal to the NWSL that Cleveland supports women's professional soccer.
CSG hired a project management consultant to prepare an economic impact study. CSG also noted that capturing $7 million in new city, county and state tax revenue from the project could support a $90 million bond issue to finance the stadium. Indicated. Plans for a soccer stadium have been percolating for years; took a vacation during the pandemic.
“We appreciate the support and partnership of our elected officials in working together on this time-sensitive funding package. We recognize there are many needs in our region, but this The project is focused on supporting women's athletics and will deliver significant ROI across the region and deliver on the promise of South Gateway,” Murphy said.
Continuing along the pedestrian promenade from Ontario Street, you'll pass over the high-speed rail tracks where a new station could be built. The proposed soccer stadium is on the right (CSG).
He noted that Cleveland is the only market in the top 20 without outdoor professional soccer for both men and women. Organizers say bringing women's soccer to Cleveland will go beyond just creating a team, increasing the city's national and international profile and providing a lasting marketing opportunity for Northeast Ohio. Says.
“As we've seen, when the RNC, NBA Finals and NCAA Women's Final Four garner national attention, we rise to the occasion,” said David Gilbert, CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Told. The event is broadcast in hundreds of countries and allows us to showcase Cleveland to the world. ”
Over the past 30 years, men's professional sports in Ohio have received $2 billion in public funding to improve their facilities. Supporters pointed out that women's professional sports have received zero awards.
“As we reflect on Gateway's transformative power, we recognize that sports facilities play a vital role in shaping the landscape of cities,” Gilbert added. “By bringing women's soccer to Cleveland, we are not just investing in the game; we are investing in the future. Our track record of leveraging sports infrastructure for economic growth It speaks volumes, and this can build on that momentum.”
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