History was made on March 28, 2026, as Denver Summit FC burst onto the National Women’s Soccer League stage in truly spectacular fashion. In what can only be described as a landmark moment for women’s sports, the Summit’s inaugural home match drew a jaw-dropping crowd of 63,004 fans to Empower Field at Mile High, shattering the NWSL’s single-game attendance record and sending a powerful message about the appetite for women’s soccer in Colorado and beyond.
The previous record, set by Bay FC in August 2025 at Oracle Park, stood at 40,091—a figure that, until Saturday, seemed almost untouchable. But Denver’s arrival in the league has rewritten the script. Not only did the Summit eclipse Bay FC’s mark by more than 20,000, but they also became the first NWSL club to ever attract a crowd exceeding 60,000. For context, even the 2024 match between the Chicago Stars and Bay FC at Wrigley Field, which drew 35,038, couldn’t come close to what unfolded in the Mile High City.
Fans poured into the Denver Broncos’ home stadium, transforming it into a sea of Summit blue and gold. The energy was palpable from the opening whistle, with supporters hungry to witness history and to finally welcome professional women’s soccer to a city with a deep sporting pedigree. As team owner Rob Cohen put it on the CBS game broadcast, “This is a pinch-me day. We set out a vision… We wanted to have over 60,000 people here, and it looks like we accomplished that.”
On the pitch, the Summit faced a stern test against the Washington Spirit, the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup winners and championship runners-up. Despite the pressure of the occasion and the electric atmosphere, Denver's players held their nerve. The match itself ended in a scoreless draw, but there was no shortage of drama. Goalkeeper Abby Smith, who’s quickly establishing herself as a cornerstone for the expansion side, earned her second clean sheet of the young season. The defensive resilience on display was a testament to the club’s ethos—expecting and demanding excellence, day in and day out, as Cohen later emphasized.
The Summit’s journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. Officially awarded the league’s 16th franchise in January 2025 for a reported expansion fee of $110 million, Denver Summit FC started play this season alongside fellow newcomers Boston Legacy FC. The build-up, however, began years earlier, with efforts from former NWSL player Jordan Angeli and a group of local soccer advocates. Their "For Denver FC" campaign laid the groundwork for what would become a historic debut.
Before the home opener, Denver played its first three matches on the road, picking up a win, a draw, and a loss—a solid foundation for any expansion club. Most notably, they stunned reigning NWSL champions Gotham FC with a 2-0 victory just days before welcoming the Spirit. That win, combined with Saturday’s hard-fought draw, left the Summit with five points and sitting sixth in the league table after four games. Not a bad start for a team still learning to play together! As Cohen reflected, “All these players chose to be with this team. They're all new. They're still trying to figure out each other in the style of play. To survive that first game, with the red card early in the match, and only lose 2 to 1 [against Bay FC], and then come back with the draw [against Orlando], and then the victory [against Gotham FC], I feel good about where we're headed and what we're doing.”
Behind the scenes, the Summit’s ambitions stretch far beyond a single record-breaking night. The club’s rapid ascent has been matched by a groundswell of local support. By September 2025, more than 15,000 fans had placed season-ticket deposits—a testament to Denver’s status as a true sports city. "Denver is an incredible sports city. It's they have a love for their team. They've proven that they can support multiple teams, and I think the fact that we haven't had a women's professional team in this town is just filling a need that the community has wanted to be here for a long time," Cohen said.
With Empower Field serving as the launchpad for their historic debut, the Summit will now shift their home base for the remainder of the 2026 season. Matches will move to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, home of the Colorado Rapids, which offers a more intimate setting with a capacity of roughly 18,000. Come July, the team will relocate again—this time to the 12,000-seat Centennial Stadium, a temporary modular facility in the Denver suburb of Centennial. This stadium will host Summit home games through 2027, as the club eagerly awaits the completion of its own purpose-built, 14,500-seat stadium at Santa Fe Yards in downtown Denver. The new venue, greenlit by the Denver City Council in December 2025, is expected to open its doors by the 2028 season, representing a major investment in the future of women’s sports in the region.
The significance of Saturday’s spectacle wasn’t lost on the local community. Fans like Karmryn Eversole were quick to highlight what the moment represents: “This is a big deal, and it’s very important. And I think it’s a huge milestone for women’s sports to prove that we want more women’s courts. And this is what we want, and we’re here supporting it, and we want to show it.” Another supporter, Nicole DeLue, added, “If you look at the amount of Denver women’s players that have gone to the World Cup, made the national team. We’ve always been a strong feeder. So to finally have a home base here is just incredible.”
As the dust settles on a day that will be remembered for years to come, the Summit are already looking ahead. Next up is a road clash with Seattle Reign on April 4, before returning to host San Diego Wave at their temporary home. The club’s vision, both on and off the field, is clear: to build a legacy that matches the passion and pride of its burgeoning fanbase.
For now, though, the echoes of 63,004 voices at Empower Field serve as a resounding affirmation: women’s soccer has arrived in Denver, and it’s here to stay. The record books have been rewritten, the bar has been raised, and the Summit’s journey is only just beginning.