Pro Women’s Soccer Team Unveils Plans For Waterfront Stadium In FL

TAMPA, FL — Days after winning the USL Super League championship, the Tampa Bay Sun FC women’s pro soccer team with Tampa business owner and developer Darryl Shaw and the league announced plans for a new waterfront stadium, according to a news release.

The 15,000-seat stadium would anchor a 33-acre mixed-use development along Ybor Harbor that will include a boutique hotel, office space, residential units, retail and restaurants.

“The vision for a new Tampa Bay Sun FC stadium is rooted in creating opportunity, celebrating excellence, and laying down a cornerstone for Ybor City’s continued revitalization,” Shaw, who is also majority owner of the Sun and master developer of Ybor Harbor, said. “We believe in the power of sport to inspire, unite, and drive meaningful change. By anchoring this historic neighborhood with a vibrant home for women’s professional soccer, we’re investing in our city’s future and honoring the community that makes it thrive.”

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Based in Tampa Bay with more than 120 employees, the USL is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in North America, with 38 professional men’s teams, a new men’s Division One league launching in 2028, and eight teams competing in the USL Super League, a first division women’s league that debuted last year with the Tampa Bay Sun as one of its founding clubs.

“This project will provide a premier new headquarters for the USL — one that reflects the energy, ambition, and growth of our leagues,” Alec Papadakis, USL chief executive office, said. “By collaborating with Darryl Shaw and Tampa Bay Sun FC, we’re accelerating the growth of women’s soccer while creating lasting benefits for Tampa Bay. The stadium development will be a place where fans and community come together and celebrate our sport – here in Tampa Bay and across the country.”

The USL Super League recently completed its inaugural season, with the Sun winning the championship on Saturday. Tampa Bay finished the season with an overall record of 14 wins, 10 ties and 6 losses, as well as a league home-best record.

The stadium would also be a premier year-round venue for sporting events, concerts, festivals, and community gatherings, according to the news release. It would also host select U.S. National Team and international matches for both men and women.

“Tampa is a city of champions — and now we’re dreaming even bigger,” Tampa’s Mayor Jane Castor said. “The stadium would deliver a place that captures our city's energy, inspires the next generation, and stands as a national symbol of what happens when cities invest boldly in women’s sports and inclusive economic growth.”

The stadium vision, designed by The Beck Group, does not yet have an anticipated start date or cost, as it is too early in the process.

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