With Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC entering the NWSL, the league will see the addition of two new stadiums. Plus, other teams have had new stadiums in the works that will finally be available for the upcoming season. So let’s take a look at where each NWSL will be playing this season!
Returning Stadiums
Washington Spirit – Segra Field and Audi Field
The Washington Spirit will continue to play their matches at Segra Field in Leesburg, VA, and Audi Field in Washington D.C. Both are soccer-specific stadiums. The Spirit has their first home game of the 2022 Challenge Cup at Segra Field on March 25. Segra Field has around 5,000 seats, while Audi Field boasts 20,000.
Orlando Pride – Exploria Stadium
The Orlando Pride will return for another season at Exploria Stadium, with a capacity of 25,500. Exploria Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium, and the Pride shares the stadium with their affiliate in the MLS, Orlando City SC. The stadium also hosted various matches of the 2021 SheBelieves Cup.
Chicago Red Stars
The Red Stars will return for their 2022 season at SeatGeek Stadium. This stadium has a capacity of 28,000 seats and also hosts various college soccer teams and other sports.
NJ/NY Gotham FC – Red Bull Arena
For the 2022 NWSL season, Gotham FC will play in the Red Bull Arena like last season. The stadium has a capacity of 25,000 and is soccer-specific. The Red Bulls of the MLS also utilize the arena. Gotham started using the arena in 2019 and drew crowds that were way larger in number than their previous venue would allow.
Portland Thorns – Providence Park
The Thorns call Providence Park home for their Challenge Cup play and their 2022 regular season. They share the 25,218 seat stadium with their affiliate, the Portland Timbers. The stadium is the oldest soccer-specific stadium in use, and the Portland Thorns have been utilizing it since its inception in 2013.
Houston Dash – PNC Stadium
The Dash will return to what was formerly known as the BBVA Stadium and is now the PNC Stadium. The multi-purpose stadium hosts 22,000 seats and is home to Houston Dynamo FC and Texas Southern Tigers football. The stadium has striking orange seats and modern architecture.
Racing Louisville FC – Lynn Family Stadium
Racing Louisville FC will use the Lynn Family Stadium, which is the largest soccer-specific stadium in the region, housing 11,600 seats. Last year, the stadium hosted The Women’s Cup, where Racing Louisville took home first place.
North Carolina Courage – WakeMed Soccer Park
The Courage will play their games this season at WakeMed Soccer Park. This complex holds six fields and the 10,000-seat Sahlen’s Stadium. The Courage will kick off their Challenge Cup schedule with a home game at WakeMed against Gotham FC on March 19.
New Stadiums
Kansas City Current – Children’s Mercy Park
NEWS: KC NWSL and @portkc finalize plans for the first NWSL purpose-built stadium at Kansas City Riverfront.
? https://t.co/vFaEgghbZe pic.twitter.com/dRdssuo58S
— KC Current (@thekccurrent) October 26, 2021
For the 2022 Challenge Cup, the Kansas City Current will be playing at Children’s Mercy Park, which seats a little over 18,000. In October 2021, the Current’s owners announced plans for the first NWSL-specific stadium to be built at Berkley Riverfront Park. The historic stadium will seat around 11,000.
Angel City FC – Titan Stadium and Banc of California Stadium
Although the stadium itself isn’t new, Angel City is new to the league. Angel City FC will be utilizing the Banc of California Stadium, which has a capacity of 22,000 seats. The team will be sharing the stadium with LA FC of the MLS. However, for the Challenge Cup, Angel City will be playing all of their home matches at Titan Stadium at the University of California Fullerton.
San Diego Wave FC – Torero Stadium and Snapdragon Stadium
Raise your hand if you're ready for September ✋ pic.twitter.com/40tfuuwwcu
— Snapdragon Stadium (@SnapdragonStdm) February 23, 2022
The San Diego Wave will be playing their home matches of the Challenge Cup and much of their 2022 regular season at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego. However, they plan to move to their permanent home at Snapdragon Stadium by September 17 in their match against Angel City. Snapdragon Stadium is currently under construction and is located on the campus of San Diego State University.
OL Reign – Lumen Field
Recently OL Reign relocated from Tacoma back to Seattle, where they will now play at Lumen Field. This multi-purpose stadium is also utilized by the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL and Seattle Sounders FC of the MLS. It’s exciting to see the Reign back in Seattle at Lumen, which seats an astounding 72,000.
Featured image via Getty Images
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