Forty years after the inaugural national women’s team camp convened in Winnipeg, representatives from various government levels and the Northern Super League came together on Tuesday to reveal the location for the city’s upcoming team venue.
In a press conference, league president Christina Litz, a Manitoban, proudly declared that the new Winnipeg team’s stadium will be constructed at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex. Litz highlighted the historical significance of the location, noting that the first Canadian women’s national team training camp took place there in 1986.
The upcoming facility will be a modular stadium integrated within the complex. The addition of Winnipeg as the host city for the Northern Super League’s inaugural expansion team was announced on July 14, expanding the league to seven teams. A $30 million investment from international sports firm APEX was secured this summer to support the league’s growth.
The new Winnipeg team, thanks in part to retired player and Olympic gold-medalist Desiree Scott from Manitoba, is set to debut in the upcoming season at the new modular stadium. Litz emphasized the vital role of Canadian women’s national team members in paving the way for the Northern Super League and acknowledged Scott’s contribution to NSL Winnipeg.
Scott, alongside Rob Gale, co-founded the franchise, with Gale serving as the team’s first head coach and general manager. Expressing her excitement, Scott, a former midfielder, described the announcement of the new stadium as the realization of a dream.
The federal government will provide $2.1 million, with the province contributing $750,000 and the city adding $600,000 towards the new stadium project. Vancouver-based SixFive Stadium Experience will lead the project, ensuring the stadium’s design allows for future expansion and enhancement of fan experience.
Adam Torpey, the vice president of business development at SixFive Stadium Experience, emphasized the stadium’s capacity of approximately 4,500 seats and its design aimed at creating an energetic atmosphere by bringing supporters closer to the field.
Mayor Scott Gillingham expressed the significance of having a suitable facility for professional soccer in the city to enhance the fan experience and attract sponsors and broadcasters. Gale, the team’s chief sporting officer, underlined the long-term commitment of the team to Winnipeg and its role in promoting women’s sports in the city.
The establishment of a home for professional women’s soccer in Winnipeg is expected to inspire young girls aspiring to follow in the footsteps of players like Scott. Gale envisions a future where young girls can witness professional women’s soccer firsthand in a stadium built for their sport and dreams.
As anticipation builds for the Winnipeg team’s debut next season, Scott envisions a future where young girls in the stands dream big, supported by a professional women’s soccer team in their city. She emphasized that the stadium represents more than just physical structures, but a place where the team and fans can come together, celebrating their love for the game and the city.