FACTS & FIGURES

ABOUT CLEVELAND SOCCER GROUP

Founded in 2022, Cleveland Soccer Group is set 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 women’s pro soccer team to the city. That team will be announced soon. CSG has already garnered over 16,000 season ticket pledges, positioning the city for an exciting future in professional soccer.

Michael Murphy Bio | Nolan Gallagher Bio | More About CSG

ABOUT THE GROWTH OF SOCCER

Soccer is growing faster than any other sport right now. First-time soccer fans have grown 400% in the U.S. since 2023 & millions more are expected to fall in love with the sport, thanks to upcoming tournaments, cultural shifts & access to the game on TV, streaming platforms & social media.

• Expected to be #3 most popular sport in the U.S. in next 10 years
• 14 million attended MLS & NWSL games in the U.S. last year
• 5 billion global soccer fans, 100 million fans in the U.S.
• Viewership increased 27% YoY for MLS, 40% for NWSL

The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup and 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup will be game changers in the U.S. Growth rates for the U.S. soccer market are expected to climb 15–20% annually following the 2026 Men’s World Cup. It’s just the start. 2028 LA Olympics will add fuel to the fire. We’re primed to ride those massive tailwinds.

ABOUT WOMEN'S SPORTS RIGHT NOW

Women’s sports are experiencing explosive growth across all key indicators—revenue, viewership, attendance, and league expansion—making them one of the most compelling investment opportunities in the sports industry.

Revenue Growth

Global revenues in women's elite sports are projected to reach $2.35 billion in 2025, up from $1.88 billion in 2024 and $981 million in 2023—a 240% increase in just four years, according to Deloitte. Commercial revenue, the largest segment, is expected to contribute $1.26 billion (54% of the total), while broadcast and matchday revenues will hit $590 million (25%) and $500 million (21%), respectively.

Viewership & Media Coverage

Media coverage of women’s sports has tripled since 2019, and fans are tuning in at record levels:

• The 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship outdrew Game 1 of the MLB World Series, solidifying women’s college basketball as a premier media property.
  
  

• The 2024 NWSL Championship drew nearly 1 million viewers, the most in league history.

• Over 1.1 million tuned in for a Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Women's Soccer

Women’s soccer is leading the charge in the global growth of women’s sports, with major investments, historic viewership, and continued league expansion:

• The NWSL is now the fastest-growing professional sports league in the U.S. and recently announced a four-year, $240 million media rights deal with CBS Sports, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, and Scripps. This partnership dramatically increases visibility with weekly national broadcasts and exclusive streaming content.

• Expansion is underway with new teams coming to Boston and Denver, alongside rising valuations for existing franchises (e.g., Bay FC’s $53 million expansion fee in 2023, Denver's $110 million in 2024) and record-setting valuations, like Angel City FC's $250 million valuation.

• Globally, women's soccer is surging—over 1.1 million watched the Women’s Super League’s Chelsea vs. Liverpool match, and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup broke attendance and broadcast records.

• Women's soccer is also sparking local economies: In cities like San Diego, Portland, and Kansas City, NWSL matchdays regularly draw crowds of 15,000+, while the newly built CPKC Stadium in Kansas City is the first-ever stadium purpose-built for a women’s sports team.

League Growth & Investment

The surge in popularity is being matched by serious investment and expansion:

• The WNBA introduced the Golden State Valkyries in 2025—its first expansion team since 2008—with Portland and Toronto set to follow by 2026.

• League One Volleyball (LOVB) is attracting top U.S. talent and private equity backing to build a pro volleyball league based in U.S. cities like Atlanta.

Economic Impact

Women’s sports are generating meaningful economic impact. The 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four in Cleveland was projected to generate $25 million for the local economy, reinforcing the value of hosting women’s sporting events.

ABOUT SOCCER IN CLEVELAND

Cleveland fans are renowned for our devotion. We show up. We bleed our team's colors. And despite our mid-market size, Cleveland is a Top 10 Pro Sports City. Cleveland is also the only top-20 sports market without a professional outdoor soccer team.

Soccer is nothing new in Cleveland. We've been playing it for generations. We've waved the flags and sung the songs of domestic and international soccer teams for decades. We've even celebrated multiple indoor league championships with the Cleveland Crunch. From cultural soccer clubs and community programs, competitive travel and nationally ranked college teams, Northeast Ohio is steeped in soccer history, talent and love for this game.