Some people say Denver has everything — a vibrant city, access to amazing outdoor recreation, 300 days of sun, and a loyal fan base for all the men’s professional sports teams. It is the reason I live here and love to call this city home.
But what about the loyal fan base for the women’s professional sports team in Denver? Right now, it doesn’t exist because Denver doesn’t have a women’s team in a major sport, namely a WNBA team.
Women’s sports are on the rise thanks to increased investment, better media rights for national TV broadcasts, and rising stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The WNBA began in 1996 and is experiencing unprecedented growth. WNBA games on ESPN saw a year-over-year increase of 170%.
All 12 WNBA teams reported growth in ticket sales, and the Las Vegas Aces sold out their season tickets for the first time ahead of the 2024 season. This trend isn’t just a one-time spike; revenue in the WNBA doubled from 2019 to 2023. With this growth, the WNBA is expanding. The San Francisco Valkyries will launch their inaugural season in 2025 with over 17,000 season ticket deposits, and the expansion doesn’t stop there. Toronto and Portland will welcome the 14th and 15th WNBA teams, respectively, with plans to add a 16th team by 2028.
So why not Denver? The city already has a thriving fan base, led by the WNBA Club, and the club’s success has inspired other cities across the nation to create their own. WNBA Club watch parties fill local businesses like Lady Justice Brewing with fans eager to cheer for their favorite teams and players.
This fall, Denver will welcome its first women’s sports bar, The 99ers. The owners launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise $35,000 to add a back patio, anticipating high demand from fans and patrons. Cities with local sports teams see a boost in local spending, and Denver is already experiencing this without a team to root for. Adding a WNBA team would further position Denver as a sports destination, drawing fans from across the Rocky Mountain region.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert visited Denver in August 2023 to assess the city for a potential expansion team. However, the city did not do enough to impress. The players need a proper practice facility. Investors in other cities are stepping up. For example, the Phoenix Mercury just opened a 58,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art practice facility with courts named after veteran and GOAT, Diana Taurasi. Ball Arena would be a perfect central spot to host games, and what a coincidence, a billionaire family who loves to invest in sports owns the venue (looking at you, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment).
In order to secure the next expansion team, Denver needs a strong commitment Ball Arena will be available to be home court for the WNBA season from April to October. Investors should jump at the chance to attract a team to Denver. Maybe it is not the Kroenke’s, but there has to be someone with money looking to make more. A recent report found the untapped potential of women’s sports merchandise is $4 billion. Women’s sponsorship deals consistently outperform those in men’s sports. The fans stand ready to welcome a team, but excitement alone won’t bring a team here–strong investment will.
Denver has almost everything. Choosing not to invest in a WNBA team here is bad business. Let’s make Denver the destination for the WNBA’s 16th team.
Carolyn Bryan is a Denver resident and co-host of the Women’s Sports Weekly Podcast.
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