NSL Winnipeg gets a home sweet home

For years, Desiree Scott has tried to imagine what women’s professional soccer would look like in her hometown.

Her vision is now a whole lot clearer.

The Northern Super League revealed Tuesday that $8.5 million is being invested into the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex, which will become the official home of Winnipeg’s recently announced expansion club.

Work is already underway to transform the facility into a 5,000-seat modular, purpose-built stadium that will be ready for kickoff next spring.

“Man, I’m picturing just a buzz and an energy as soon as you’re coming down Waverley. I want to hear it, I want to see the sights and sounds,” said Scott, NSL Winnipeg’s co-founder and vice-president of community and player experience, at Tuesday’s press conference.

“You want to see all of our branding and the colourways and really make this feel like a home and a part of the community. Roars, cheers from Winnipeg scoring goals on the opposition. And really just an atmosphere that people want to come to week-in and week-out.”

The league, which received $30 million in funding from an international sports investment firm this summer, is contributing $5,025,000 to the project. The federal government is investing up to $2.1 million, the Province of Manitoba is adding $750,000, and the City of Winnipeg is providing $600,000.

SixFive Stadiums, a Vancouver-based company, has been hired to lead the development of the much-improved venue.

The NSL, Canada’s top division of women’s soccer, will be entering its third season in 2027 with seven teams.

“Wherever we go in this country, and Winnipeg is no exception, women’s sports facilities have not been given the equal treatment that really the athletes that play the game deserve,” said NSL president and Winnipegger Christina Litz.

“And so, that’s part of our commitment in the NSL to play our part in helping level the field, which includes the investment by the league and by multi levels of government to build women’s soccer and sporting stadiums.

“That’s the way our athletes become world-class, that’s the thing that turns the NSL Winnipeg team into a team that can play on the world stage against the best clubs in the world,” she added.

Rob Gale was the head coach and general manager of Valour FC for the club’s first three-and-a-half seasons. Winnipeg’s Canadian Premier League (CPL) side played out of Princess Auto Stadium, which was an awkward fit from the start as it holds 32,343 spectators.

Valour folded after the 2025 campaign, leaving the city without pro soccer until the NSL came knocking.

With NSL Winnipeg having a much more suitable home base, Gale believes this team will be here to stay.

“We have well more than 5,000 Winnipeg people who support soccer. And (Valour) showed that in our first year. I think we had 5,700 (fans per game) with Valour,” said Gale, NSL Winnipeg co-founder and chief sporting officer.

“And (fans) love an exclusive ticket. So now you’re not rolling up on game day knowing that there’s 26,000 spare tickets. This is going to be an in-demand ticket.”

He also believes the quality of play in the NSL is well worth people spending their hard-earned money on.

“The NSL is already establishing itself as one of the top women’s leagues in the world. Starting salary is in the top five. Budgets to work with, the staff and to build a roster, is in the top five of women’s soccer leagues, worldwide. So you’ve got a genuine chance to attract top talent,” said Gale.

“And if there’s one thing that Winnipeg likes being, it’s in the top level. Why are the Jets successful? Why are the Bombers successful? Because they’ve got a genuine chance to compete. CPL we know was a development league, a different purpose. It was great for national teams and you’ve seen the benefit of that. But this is a top league and now we’re bringing that top infrastructure to match it.”

There will be a wide array of seating options, including social areas, supporter and premium seating, and suites. New FIFA-grade turf will also be installed, along with improved lighting and modern amenities designed for both professional players and the local soccer community.

The stadium will also be constructed in a way that makes it easy to expand if demand grows in the coming years.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

“It is all about atmosphere,” said Scott.

“We want to create this purpose-built stadium that is intimate, that is all about the fan experience, where the community from Day 1 feels a part of this.”

As for the team name and logo, the plan is for those to be announced next month. The Winnipeg Destroyers — in honour of Scott’s nickname — had been floated as a possibility, but the former national team player shared that they opted to go in a different direction.

“That was a top contender. A lot of people wanted that,” said Scott. “But no.”

winnipegfreepress.com/taylorallen

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.