NEW MULTI-PURPOSE STADIUM WOULD ALSO BE HOME TO USL CHAMPIONSHIP MEN’S TEAM
ROSWELL, Ga. — The City of Roswell has entered into an agreement with the United Soccer League (USL) to explore the possibility of developing a historic women’s soccer stadium-anchored entertainment district and make Roswell home to a USL Super League professional women’s team and a USL Championship professional men’s team. During their meeting on Monday, March 25, Roswell City Council unanimously approved a Letter of Intent (LOI) between the City of Roswell and the USL that stipulates an exclusive nine-month negotiating period through Dec. 31, 2024, with the option to extend negotiations, if needed.
If an agreement is reached, the stadium will be home to a professional women’s soccer team competing in the Division One-sanctioned USL Super League and a USL Championship professional men’s team.
“The City of Roswell is excited to enter into exclusive negotiations with the USL to potentially bring women’s and men’s professional soccer to Roswell,” said Mayor Kurt Wilson. “This is an unprecedented opportunity for our City. Although we are just at the beginning of the process and many details will have to be worked through, we are looking forward to exploring possibilities with the USL. Being home to a new entertainment district, a multi-purpose stadium, and two professional soccer teams would be a huge economic driver and point of pride for the City of Roswell.”
Among the reasons the USL chose The City of Roswell for this endeavor are its ambitious vision for the project, its tradition of excellence in soccer, and the Metro-Atlanta area’s tremendous passion for the sport.
“We are elated to partner with the City of Roswell and explore this exciting opportunity,” USL Deputy CEO and Chief Real Estate Officer Justin Papadakis said. “Having grown up there, right in Horseshoe Bend, I can unequivocally attest that The City of Roswell has all the ingredients to become home to the preeminent USL Club, multi-purpose stadium, and entertainment district – all driven by its world-class professional women’s team.”
The LOI approved on March 25 is a commitment to exclusive negotiations. A site for the entertainment district and multi-use stadium has not been selected. Finding a suitable location will be part of the negotiation process. The stadium will seat at least 10,000 and the USL would serve as both the “anchor tenant” of the stadium and would have right of first refusal to serve as the stadium operator/manager.