The increasing popularity of women’s sport is changing the game of sports facilities. With recent stages and record valuations, numbers speak for themselves: demand is increasing, as well as the need for facilities that support the level of competition and growth of the Fandom associated with women’s sport.
Women who play elite sports are not new; What has changed is the increase in Fandom for female athletics. For the first time in 2024, the NCAA National Women’s Basketball Championship game attracted more viewers than men, and by little margin. While the male game received 14.8 million viewers, 24 million adapted to see the South Carolina Gamechks defeat Iowa Hawkeyes University. This growing audience promotes the need for modernized facilities designed to improve both the player’s experience and the fans.
Record vision and the power of feminine fan
The valleys boilvice president of PCL Sports DivisionHe has seen this increase in first -hand popularity.
“In recent years there has been a massive increase in the vision of female sports,” says Koger. “The fans are looking for games and we are seeing a stronger effort to promote the sports events of the women’s and team and the team.”
While both men and women see women’s sports, this increase in vision can be largely attributed to female fans. More women are ever looking at sports, thanks to movements like the “Caitlin Clark effect.“Probably one of the most famous female athletes of all time, Clark was a record basketball star at Iowa University before being collected by Indiana fever in the WNBA project of 2024 resilience symbolism and breaking barriers.
These fans are demonstrating their purchase power by pressing egalitarian coverage and the best facilities, and the owners of premises and teams are noticeable through the construction or renovation of facilities specifically for women’s athletes and fans.
Tiffany WHIPLE, head of PCL Senior Projects, with extensive experience in the construction and renovation of sports facilities, has seen the influence of females on first -hand fans. “More women are ever buying tickets,” says Whypse. “They will go to games, supporting their favorite teams and buying food and goods. The owners of teams and premises recognize it and are building and renewing facilities that serve fans in the way they have not done so in the past.”
Includes various and better quality options and goods that are fashionable, aesthetically attractive and available in various forms, sizes and styles. The “Shrink It and Pink It” approach is no longer feasible: women’s fans want to attend games and represent sports and players who support teams and services that support their Fandom style.
“Women’s sports growth is a transformative movement, driven by athletes who use their platforms to camp larger causes, such as gender equality and mental health awareness,” he says Ally forsterA project manager with PCL that has worked in various sports facilities. “These women are not only excellent in their sports, they also lead with purpose and push the audience to inspire the next generation of young girls and aspiring fans.”
Building better spaces for female athletes
In addition to new and updated stages, there is a significant increase in professional teams that build training practices and facilities specifically for their female athletes. These facilities incorporate welfare spaces, children’s care areas and services adapted to the needs of female athletes. Advances in sports science are integrated, offering physical therapy and strength training that support new women’s bodies.
A 2021 study of the University of Northumbria emphasized that from 2016 to 2021, only 6% of published sports and exercise studies Focused on female athletes, leaving a great gap of information. As researchers work to deal with this disparity, team owners and supporters are pushing to improve training and treatment facilities for women.
Similarly, PCL built a Temporary practices and training facilities For the wave of San Diego, while the team seeks a place to build a permanent installation. The installation includes fitness and training areas, a locker room, a player’s lounge, a movie theater and coaches offices. Facilities like this incorporate women’s sports care based on anatomical, hormonal, nutritional and physiological factors unique to women in sports.
There are currently other projects underway or developed, with various teams that announce the construction of new practices and training facilities. According to Sports Business DiaryNine or refurbished practices and training facilities have been completed for the National Women Soccer League’s City Àngeland the wnba Golden State Valkyries and Phoenix Mercury. Other teams are constructing or announced plans to build new facilities, including NWSL’s Bay fcthe wnba’s Chicago skyand Shared installation For the Portland thorns of the NWSL and the expansion team of WNBA Portland still appointed. All these facilities are designed and built taking into account the needs of female athletes.
Danielle “Danny” ColipricoA NSWL’s Houston Dash midfielder has witnessed this increase in popularity throughout his career, after playing professional football for a decade.
“At the beginning of my career, I felt that we did not have the resources we needed to act in the field. We did not have the facilities to take care of our bodies and to ensure that we were completely prepared for a game,” says Coliprico. She explains that during the start of her career, she and her teammates often had to share fields with professional men’s or even university teams and often lacked access to private changing rooms. Although Claprico acknowledges that the facilities available for NWSL players have improved exponentially, eagerly awaiting more advances.
“Fans want to see us at the best time and we cannot always be at our best if we do not have the right facilities. What I am seeing now with the teams that achieve their own training centers and designated spaces is so important and it is an improvement.”
Follow the money: Increased private investment in women’s sports
The growth in the construction and renovation of stages, areas, internships and training and other spaces specifically adapted to female athletes is supported by private investors who did not formerly engaged in women’s sport. This has contributed to the valuations of the professional team to shoot.
In 2023, the private capital Sixth Street invested $ 53 million to establish Bay FC, a NWSL franchise team in the area of San Francisco Bay. Two years later in early 2025 the NWSL announced a franchise Expansion to Denver With an investment of $ 110 million from IMA Financial Group. This is the highest fee ever paid only for a women’s expansion team in any sport. Investment is already bearing fruit, with thousands of fans Tickets of purchase In the opening season of the team, in a few weeks after the expansion announcement. The investor group has announced plans to build A stadium and a training facility for the new team.
The WNBA also experiences a significant increase in franchise ratings. By 2023, Valkyries Golden State settled with a paid investment team 50 million dollars For the team. A year later, the League announced a franchise expansion in Toronto, with Kilmer Sports Ventures paying 115 million dollars For the rhythm of Toronto and a new installation of practices. At the beginning of 2025, Serena Williams, one of the most successful athletes in the world, joined the rhythm -owned team.
“Women’s sports growth potential for the next decade is huge,” says Koger. “We only see the beginning of this trend.”
These investments are encouraged by contrasting data that show their profitability. In October 2024, AT&T, Capital One, Cisco and Deloitte announced the establishment of Athena poldgeA platform dedicated to investing in female sports. The platform shares stories of successful data and investment stories that highlight the financial benefits of supporting women’s sports.
Female investors are an important part of the motor equipment and financing facilities in sports women’s sports. It Collective monarchFounded in 2023 by two female risk capitalists, it focuses exclusively on investing in professional women’s teams. So far they have invested in the Ona of San Diego of the NWSL, Angel City FC and the expansion of the franchise that premiered in Boston in 2026.
“As a former competitive athlete, I have experienced first -hand the challenges of making a way in a space that lacked the opportunity and proper funding,” says Forster. “Investing in these new facilities is more than creating equal opportunities; it is to build spaces where women can prosper, compete at the highest levels and have the resources and support they need to break barriers and redefine what is possible.”
With an increase in funding and increasing demand, the women’s sports industry is ready for continuous expansion and financial success.
Start a new age for women’s sports
As the landscape of women’s sport continues to evolve, investment in modern facilities and the increase in dedicated fanbases shows this transformative age. PCL Construction excels in the construction of sports facilities and is engaged in advancing women’s sport through the construction of world -class class facilities for world -class athletes. The commitment to build state -of -the -art sites and training centers not only improves experience for athletes and fans, but also means broader recognition of the value and potential of women’s sport. With increasing vision, substantial private investments and a growing community of passionate followers, the future of women’s sport and the facilities they play and play, it is brighter than ever and PCL expects to help build it.
