Columbus breaks ground on NWSL training headquarters
Columbus’ incoming NWSL club has begun construction of a dedicated training base and headquarters backed by US$50m in public funding ahead of its planned 2028 debut.
Columbus’ future National Women’s Soccer League club has broken ground on a 45,000-square-foot training facility, with the project supported by US$25m each from the city and Franklin County.The OhioHealth Training Grounds is scheduled to open in January 2028, providing a dedicated training base and headquarters before the unnamed club begins its first season that spring.NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said: “The investment we’re seeing in Columbus reflects exactly where the NWSL is headed and the standard we’re setting for the future of women’s professional sports.“World-class players deserve world-class facilities, and the OhioHealth Training Grounds represents a meaningful commitment to giving our athletes the resources and environment they need to thrive. With the leadership of Haslam Sports Group and its partners, and a city with such a rich soccer tradition, Columbus is building something special that will benefit our players, fans and the broader community for years to come.”The club’s ownership group comprises Haslam Sports Group, Nationwide and the Edwards family, with the facility intended to support player recruitment, health and long-term talent development.Plans include changing facilities designed around female athletes’ needs, a family and mothers’ room supporting childcare, and space for academy and development teams.A dedicated social media room will also allow first-team players to produce content for their own channels.Haslam Sports Group managing partner Whitney Haslam Johnson said: “This facility will set a new global standard across women’s sports that reflects our club’s goals of consistently investing in and elevating female athletes, competing on the pitch, creating special memories for our fans and showcasing Columbus on an international stage.”The team will play home matches at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, sharing the downtown stadium with MLS club Columbus Crew while maintaining its training and administrative operations at the new site.General manager Lucy Rushton said the club can begin signing players on January 1, 2027, giving it a recruitment window ahead of the facility’s completion and its league launch.Construction is taking place at the former McCoy Park, whose allocation to the project prompted opposition from residents and a commitment to provide replacement public recreation facilities.The replacement programme includes a new nine-acre Greenleaf Park, an adaptive softball field at Lou Berliner Sports Park and public amenities on land north of the former McCoy Park.Columbus mayor Andrew Ginther said: “This investment is not only about building a world-class home for women’s soccer, but also about creating jobs, strengthening our neighborhoods and bringing new opportunities to our entire city.“Together, we are building a Columbus where growth benefits every resident, and where the next generation of girls can see that their dreams have no limits.”Ginther said work on Greenleaf Park would begin the following week, as the city advances the public recreation commitments alongside construction of the club’s training base.