Manning Joins Denver NWSL Ownership Ahead Of 2026 Debut

Legendary NFL quarterback Peyton Manning has become a minority owner in the new Denver NWSL team that will debut in the 2026 season.

Manning joins the ownership group led by controlling owner Rob Cohen, and including Ariel Investments’ Project Level, Jon-Erik Borgen, Kaia Borgen Moritz, Neelima Joshi, Dhiren Jhaveri, Molly Coors, and Mikaela Shiffrin.

“Together, they aim to build the most inclusive and community-rooted club in professional soccer,” said a club statement.

Manning is a Colorado legend having won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos.

“Peyton’s legacy as a champion and a leader is second to none,” said Cohen. “His impact on Colorado sports is unmatched, and we’re incredibly proud to have him as a partner. He brings passion, insight, and deep local roots — all of which will help us shape the future of Denver NWSL.”

Manning joins his brother, Eli, as an NWSL owner. The former Giants quarterback is part-owner of New York/New Jersey’s Gotham FC. Now financial details were given for Manning’s stake in the Denver club.

The Mile High City is the NWSL’s 16th franchise and the ownership group paid a record-breaking expansion fee of $110 million, more than double the previous NWSL record, for the privilege.

The club said that it is set to break ground on a state-of-the-art performance center in Centennial, Colorado, and has unveiled plans for a future stadium district in downtown Denver.

That project will be the “largest investment in women’s team sports infrastructure in history”, said the club. Estimates put the cost of the new stadium at about $200 million.

Denver is building for the commercial future which in many respects is already here. New data from Sponsor United finds NWSL teams brought in $75 million across 445 deals this year, with an average deal size of $138,000-$169,000.

In comparison WNBA teams generated $76 million in sponsorship revenue across 551 deals in 2024.

Insideworldfootball.com