Oct 16, 2026 · 55 min
Women’s sports teams turn stadium ownership into a growth strategy
A Stadium to Call Their Own with Avi Greene and Asrat Alemu
Purpose-built venues could give women’s sports greater control over revenue, media, performance, and the fan experience.
- 1Dedicated venues unlock revenue from naming rights, premium spaces, signage, concessions, parking, and merchandise.
- 2Athlete-informed design treats women’s specific performance and recovery needs as a starting point, not an afterthought.
- 3Venue ownership can strengthen media control, player development, recruiting, and the commercial relationship with fans.
Don't miss
The guests distinguish equal facilities from equitable ones, showing how direct athlete input changes the design of performance and recovery spaces.
The brief
Sarah Spain previews the WNBA Finals, then turns to Avi Green and Asrat Alemu on why purpose-built facilities are becoming central to women’s sports growth.
The Kansas City Current serves as the clearest model: owning a venue can add revenue streams while giving a team more control over dates, broadcasts, and playoff hosting.
Green and Alemu argue that athlete-centered design must go beyond matching men’s facilities, incorporating player input on recovery spaces, showers, equipment, and field surfaces.
The conversation extends to fans, whose preferences may differ from those of men’s sports audiences; tailored food, seating, and game-day spaces can create commercial value.
Spain closes with a look at the WNBA’s new CBA and higher championship bonuses, linking facility investment to the broader push for better economics in women’s sports.