The Haslams paid $205 million for a team.
It seems all it took for Columbus, Ohio to get a National Women’s Soccer League franchise was a $50 million commitment from Columbus-area politicians to build a practice facility and upgrade the city’s present stadium. The politicians came up with the public money and within 24 hours the NWSL granted Columbus a franchise. Women’s soccer has come a long way in 27 years. Jimmy and Dee Haslam paid $205 million for a team. A quarter of a century ago that would not have happened. The Women’s United Soccer Association’s goal was to capitalize on fan interest in women’s soccer after the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team won the 1999 World Cup. The league was put together in late 1999 and early 2000 with the intention of playing in 2001. Players from that championship team had a stake in the league, as they had part ownership in various franchises.
The WUSA had solid backing from the cable TV industry, which should have insured its financial health. John Hendricks, the founder and chairman of Discovery Communications and the creator of the Discovery Channel, was the chief moving force behind the WUSA. The league received about $40 million from the partners for start-up costs. “The Women’s World Cup players have demonstrated enormous drawing power,” Hendricks said in a February 2000 news conference. “The consensus was that the ideal time to consider the launch of the league would be after the 1999 World Cup. We think this is an exciting time. We think we have the right ingredients.” The WUSA awarded its first franchise to Atlanta and signed TV deals with ESPN, Turner Sports, and PAX Net. Other cities, including Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, joined as charter franchises. The league lasted three years. People didn’t buy tickets or watch games on TV. Times have changed.
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