Soccer balls. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Green Bay is looking to get serious about soccer as it is one step closer to exclusive negotiations to bring professional men’s and women’s teams to the city.
The United Soccer League, the largest pro soccer organization in the country, is ready to spend the next one to two years finding out if Green Bay is a viable option for expansion.
“I think they were really impressed with the energy they could witness as they were moving about throughout our downtown,” said Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich.
The city’s Redevelopment Authority provided initial approval for exclusive negotiations between the city and USL on Tuesday.
If the city council provides final approval, the city won’t be able to consider other pro soccer possibilities, and the USL can’t consider other nearby locations until September 2026 at the earliest.
Contract extension options could keep the exclusive window open until September 2027.
“Sports venues that are in or near urban centers are a major attraction and bring in residents, bring in tourism dollars,” said Jeff Mirkes, Downtown Green Bay, Inc. Executive Director.
The USL has tried the area before. The Green Bay Voyageurs, a USL semi-pro team, debuted at Capital Credit Union Park in Ashwaubenon in 2019, but suspended operations in early 2022.
Genrich said bringing another USL team to Green Bay could work out differently than the Voyageurs.
“I think one important criteria that they’re really looking for is a purpose built stadium exclusively for soccer,” said Genrich.
Genrich notes the Voyageurs era included the COVID pandemic, which made things difficult for athletics.
The next step is finding private funding that would likely pair with public money for stadium construction, according to Genrich.
“We’re not really talking sites at this point,” said Genrich. “I think we’ll have time for that down the line, but 4 to 6 acres is what they’re going to need and obviously we’d like to have them in downtown.”
Stadium capacity would need to be at least 5,000 with potential for expansion.
The city doesn’t have to pay anything for this exclusive window. The USL will assume all feasibility related costs.
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