A new benchmark for fan support in women’s professional soccer was established this weekend, as the National Women’s Soccer League’s latest expansion team played its inaugural home match before a massive audience.
The Denver Summit hosted 63,004 spectators at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium for a fixture against the Washington Spirit, shattering the league’s previous single-game attendance record. The figure surpasses the old mark, set less than a year ago, by a significant margin of approximately 23,000 fans.
The club’s entry into the league has been marked by rapid and aggressive ambition. Shortly after its official announcement in early 2025, the franchise quickly sold out its initial allotment of season tickets, generating a substantial waiting list in the process. Capitalizing on strong local demand, team leadership made the bold decision to schedule its first home contest in a major stadium, setting an ambitious ticket sales target from the outset.
Sales momentum built steadily for the event, branded as “The Kickoff.” By February, the club had already sold enough tickets to break the existing record, prompting the opening of the stadium’s upper level and the offering of affordable ticket options. The team’s official supporters’ group played a key role in the final push, with members actively recruiting attendees up until the day of the match.
The gameday atmosphere was described as electric, highlighted by a large pre-match tailgate that drew a diverse crowd spanning multiple generations. While the contest on the field ended in a scoreless draw, the spectacle in the stands was the clear story, with players noting the unique experience of performing for such a large audience.
The record-setting crowd continues a recent trend for the league, where the top attendance figures have all been recorded in the last few years, often in venues not primarily designed for soccer. League officials pointed to the achievement as evidence of sustained growth and rising national interest in the product.
They emphasized that such milestones create a “rising tide” effect across all markets, encouraging other clubs to think bigger and demonstrating the widespread demand for professional women’s soccer. The success was attributed to a combination of committed local ownership, strategic community engagement, and an effective effort to frame the match as a major civic event.
The Summit will play the remainder of its inaugural season in a smaller, soccer-specific stadium before moving to a new, purpose-built venue slated for completion later this decade. With a sold-out season ticket base and strong early results on the field, the club appears well-positioned to maintain robust fan support as it builds its foundation in the league.
