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City officials are recommending a $600,000 grant for upgrades to a soccer stadium should Winnipeg land a professional women’s team.
Winnipeg’s executive policy committee will consider on Thursday an administrative report advising the move if the city gets a franchise in the recently formed Northern Super League (NSL).
The grant to the Winnipeg Soccer Federation would be to help with upgrades to the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex on Waverley Street, including the installation of new artificial turf and lighting, to accommodate a potential league expansion.
“I want to see a professional women’s soccer team in Winnipeg,” Mayor Scott Gillingham told reporters Wednesday. “So I’m glad to support this report.”
The top-division NSL had its inaugural season last year. It currently has teams in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.
WATCH | City mulling grant if Winnipeg awarded pro women’s soccer team:
City to consider grant for soccer facility upgrades if Winnipeg awarded pro women’s team
The inner circle of Winnipeg’s mayor will consider on Tuesday whether to give a $600,000 grant to help with upgrades at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex should Winnipeg be awarded a team in the Northern Super League, Canada’s professional women’s soccer association.
But president Christina Litz told CBC News earlier this year Winnipeg could be in the cards as the league seeks to add a seventh team for the 2027 season.
The city’s administrative report says discussions with the league, a potential owner, the local soccer community and government are ongoing and there is “considerable momentum” toward making the new team happen.
Jennifer Stayner, president of the Red River Rising Supporters Association, said she’s hopeful.
“There’s sort of a gap, a huge gap, for the soccer community right now,” Stayner said Sunday. “They’re hungry for it. They’re ready to celebrate a new team to Winnipeg and they’re ready to celebrate a return of professional soccer to Winnipeg.”
The conversations are happening about half a year after the city’s professional men’s soccer club Valour FC, of the Canadian Premier League, announced it was suspending operations.
Stayner — whose organization began as a supporter’s group for Valour — said fans were “still feeling the sting” of that departure and will always be wary about the long-term financial prospects of professional sports teams in the city.
But she said she has faith Winnipeg can “write a new chapter” with the NSL.
“I think Winnipeg players and young girls that are playing soccer right now are going to feel like they can dream and that there’s a place for them to actually try and succeed,” she said.
The total cost for the installation of the turf and lighting at the Ralph Cantafio complex is estimated to be $1.5 million, with the rest of the funds coming from the soccer federation and the provincial government.
The report said the field improvements would be part of larger upgrades to be paid for by the franchise owner. They will include additional seating, new concessions and locker rooms as well as expanded washroom facilities.
A formal decision by the league on whether to proceed with a new team in 2027 is expected shortly, the report said.