Mayor’s inner circle to consider $600K grant for soccer complex upgrades if city gets women’s pro league team

City administrators are recommending a $600,000 grant to the Winnipeg Soccer Federation to help fund upgrades at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex, subject to Winnipeg securing a Northern Super League team, Canada’s top professional women’s soccer league.

The report, which goes to executive policy committee on Tuesday, outlines a $1.5-million project to upgrade the main field at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex on Waverley Street to meet professional standards, including requirements for potential television broadcasts.

The city’s $600,000 share would come from funds already approved for a water main replacement in Kildonan Park. Rather than being paid for through the city’s tax-supported budget as originally planned, that project would instead be covered by the water utility’s budget, freeing up the funding for the soccer complex. The Winnipeg Soccer Federation would cover the remaining costs, with support from the province.

“We can fund it within existing budgetary resources,” said Matt Dryburgh, the city’s interim deputy chief administrative officer. “So it doesn’t necessitate the need for council to vote to spend any more money or take money away from another project.”

If approved, the upgrades are intended to be completed ahead of a possible 2027 Northern Super League season in the city.

The league began play last year in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver. The 2026 season got underway in late April and comes to an end in mid-November.

“If we’re going to get a women’s soccer team, there would need to be some upgrades to Ralph Cantafio,” Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said to media Wednesday. “I want to see a professional women’s soccer team in Winnipeg, and so I’m glad to support this.”

“It’s being done for all users, but certainly in the hopes of attracting a team.”

Dryburgh said the main work would focus on installing new artificial turf and lighting.

“From the city’s perspective, we thought the one way we would participate, or we could participate, is by making a contribution to those two components of the upgrade,” he said. “And the rationale behind that is that it would obviously benefit the NSL if it were to come here, but it’s also an investment in the amateur soccer community.”

Beyond the turf and lighting work, the report outlines other upgrades that would be required if a professional team is awarded to Winnipeg. They include expanded seating, locker rooms and other match-day facilities, which would not be funded by the city and would instead rely on outside partners, including a potential team owner and the league.

“If (the NSL) came to us and said, ‘No, we’re not doing it, we’re not thinking about it,’ then we wouldn’t do the grant now,” Dryburgh said. “Because part of that grant is to upgrade the lighting there for TV broadcast standards, so if there’s no league, there’s no need for that.”

Local soccer figures, including former Canadian national team member and Olympic champion Desiree Scott and former Valour FC coach Rob Gale, have been leading a push to bring an NSL expansion franchise to Winnipeg.

They have been meeting with potential investors, but there has been no public announcement of an ownership group

Scott and Gale have pointed to the growth of women’s professional sports in North America, including the success of the Professional Women’s Hockey League and the expansion of the Women’s National Basketball Association into Canada.

A petition, created by Scott, supporting an NSL team in Winnipeg, has also circulated online.

Scott and Gale issued a statement Friday afternoon.

“We are pleased that the City of Winnipeg is as committed as we are to bringing an NSL club to Winnipeg…. The league has high standards when it comes facilities in potential expansion markets,” said the statement.

“We believe this investment by the city will go a long way toward strengthening Winnipeg’s bid.”

The NSL communications department did not respond to a request for comment this week regarding the potential for a Winnipeg franchise.

zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca