TAMPA, Fla. – Fresh off their triumphant USL Super League championship, the Tampa Bay Sun FC, in collaboration with Tampa business leader Darryl Shaw and the United Soccer League (USL), today unveiled ambitious plans for one of the world’s first stadiums specifically built for a professional women’s soccer team.
This groundbreaking 15,000-seat stadium, envisioned to include a boutique hotel, would be located on the vibrant waterfront at Ybor Harbor, marking a significant milestone for women’s sports globally.
The state-of-the-art facility would become the permanent home for Tampa’s top-tier professional women’s soccer team and serve as the anchor for a dynamic new urban district, which will also house the USL’s headquarters.
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“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,” stated Darryl Shaw, majority owner of Tampa Bay Sun FC and master developer of Ybor Harbor. “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.”
The stadium would be the centerpiece of Ybor Harbor, a sprawling 33-acre mixed-use development featuring residential units, retail spaces, restaurants, hotels, and office towers. This extensive development will also host the USL’s headquarters.
The USL, headquartered in Tampa Bay with over 120 employees, stands as North America’s largest and fastest-growing soccer organization, boasting 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 in 2024 with the Tampa Bay Sun as a founding club.
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Alec Papadakis, USL Chief Executive Officer, commented on the synergy of the project: “This project will provide a premier new headquarters for the USL — one that reflects the energy, ambition, and growth of our leagues. 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 Tampa Bay Sun FC recently capped off the USL Super League’s inaugural season by clinching the championship on June 14. The Sun concluded their impressive season with an overall record of 14 wins, 10 ties, and 6 losses, boasting a league-best home record. Every Super League match streams nationally on NBC’s Peacock, reaching 41 million subscribers, with additional coverage across Canada, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, significantly boosting Tampa Bay’s national and international exposure.
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Beyond being the home of the Sun FC, the proposed stadium is envisioned as a premier year-round venue for diverse events, including sporting competitions, concerts, festivals, and community gatherings. It would also be capable of hosting 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,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “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, is still in its early stages, with no anticipated start date or cost currently available.
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