The crowded race for the women's sports "capital"
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The Columbus Fury play in the newly merged Major League Volleyball. Photo: Courtesy of the Fury
Mayor Andrew Ginther wants Columbus to be the women's sports capital, but he has stiff competition and some catching up to do.
Why it matters: As leagues eye expansion, leaders around the country want to ride the wave, capitalizing on surging viewership and investment that comes with it.
Driving the news: In his 2025 State of the City address, Ginther declared "our aspiration for Columbus to emerge as the nation's capital for women's sports."
- That announcement launched the Women's Sports Capital Ambition, a collaboration between Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission (GCSC) meant to cultivate participation in women's sports, grow fandoms, host events and drive a variety of investments.
Zoom in: Columbus' professional women's sports headliner is the Fury, part of the newly merged Major League Volleyball.
- We're also home to the Chaos, Eagles, Squirrels and Ohio Roller Derby.
Yes, but: Ginther's goals go beyond professionals.
- He said investment in women's sports is "about creating a pipeline for women to serve as the future business and civic leaders of this city."
- His speech cited an EY Global study that found 94% of C-suite women have played sports.
The big picture: The mayor's office knows these lofty goals are "a big aspiration," Ginther's deputy chief of staff, Jennifer Fening, tells Axios.
- In July, the city awarded the GCSC a new $250,000 contract to work toward women's sports goals.
- "The first steps under the new contract will be to build supportive partnerships," like outreach to area universities, Fening says.
The competition: Columbus isn't the only city investing and identifying opportunities for growth.
- Charlotte, Denver, D.C., Indianapolis, Nashville, San Francisco and others have joined the race.
Friction point: The increased attention still hasn't resulted in adequate pay for athletes. At the recent WNBA All-Star Game, players vented their frustration over ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
- Terri Jackson, executive director of the Women's National Basketball Players Association, thinks the battle between cities and fan bases can help.
- "Just keep talking about the game. Keep talking about the players … because these players are in a fight right now for an agreement that truly values them," she said. "It's a big moment for women's sports … if you love the game, just keep talking about it. Keep showing up."