Columbus Gets NWSL Team, But Training Facility Location Sparks Controversy
Columbus lands NWSL’s 18th franchise, but residents criticize training facility plans for underserved neighborhood with state’s lowest life expectancy.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Columbus has been awarded a National Women’s Soccer League franchise, but the proposed training facility location in an underserved neighborhood has drawn sharp criticism from residents who say the city broke promises to improve the area.
The city was selected late last month as the NWSL’s 18th franchise, with the team owned by Haslam Sports Group, Nationwide, and Drs. Christine and Pete Edwards. The franchise will play home games at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, current home of the Columbus Crew.
Training Facility Controversy
The planned training facility will be constructed at McCoy Park on Columbus’s southwest side, located in Census Tract 51, which has the state’s lowest life expectancy at 60 years according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers.
“We want to be excited about women’s professional soccer coming to the city of Columbus, but the fact that you did it off of the backs of an area that is so underserved … it has muddied any kind of excitement that would have been built around this team coming here,” said Columbus resident Jennifer Crayton.
Community Impact Concerns
The controversy stems from the location choice in a neighborhood that residents say was previously promised various park improvements. Community members argue that placing the professional training facility there represents another disappointment for an area already struggling with significant health and economic challenges.
The CDC research identifying Census Tract 51 as having Ohio’s lowest life expectancy underscores the broader issues facing the neighborhood where McCoy Park is located. The 60-year average life expectancy figure highlights the stark disparities between different areas of Columbus.
Moving Forward
Despite the location controversy, the NWSL expansion represents a significant addition to Columbus’s professional sports scene. The franchise will become the 18th team in the National Women’s Soccer League, bringing top-level women’s professional soccer to Ohio for the first time.
The ownership group combining Haslam Sports Group, Nationwide, and the Edwards family brings substantial resources and local connections to the venture. Haslam Sports Group also owns the Cleveland Browns, while Nationwide maintains significant business operations in Columbus.
The team’s home venue at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field provides an established soccer facility with proven capacity to host professional matches. However, the training facility debate continues to overshadow what might otherwise be celebrated as a major win for Columbus sports fans and women’s athletics.
