Women’s Soccer Approaches

A new women’s professional soccer league is expected to launch in 2008 in five major markets, including at AEG’s Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

The league, with the help of Major League Soccer, is expected to have teams in Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago and Washington as well as L.A. It would replace the Women’s United Soccer Association, which folded in 2003 after an average attendance of 4,500 during its three-year run. A sixth team is expected to be added once the owners pick a host city.

AEG Sports President Shawn Hunter said having the new league’s teams owned and operated by the organizations with ties to MLS, along with established marketing, sales promotional and operational departments "is a critical and significant component to launching a league that can have immediate credibility and success."

The Home Depot Center is already home to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The 2008 launch comes on the heels of this year’s Women’s World Cup, to take place in China in September.

The Chicago franchise is a partnership between Chicago Fire former prexy Peter Wilt, FC Indiana and the Illinois Women’s Soccer League. The Dallas and Washington franchises are in discussions with their cities’ respective MLS teams about sharing a stadium.