Gotham FC announced a $100 million capital raise on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, bringing in new investors led by the Moelis family as the two-time NWSL champion pushes toward a 2028 move into a new Queens stadium and a first-ever dedicated training facility across the river in New Jersey. The announcement came out of Jersey City and described the money as fuel for investments in players, infrastructure and fan experiences.
According to Gotham FC, the raise includes seven new minority investors with backgrounds in banking and finance, real estate development and public service, among them David R. Giroux and Anne Welsh McNulty. Next 3 Ventures and the Tisch family also put in substantial amounts, while existing investor Jennifer Mackesy backed the round as well. It's the first time the club has welcomed new minority investors since Carolyn Tisch Blodgett took over as lead owner, and the club says the capital will go toward sustaining a championship-caliber roster, reaching more fans across the New York region, and strengthening operations and infrastructure.
Tisch Blodgett, who also serves as Gotham's club governor, sits on the NWSL board and chairs the league's executive committee, framed the moment as validation rather than arrival. “When we became owners of Gotham FC three years ago, we saw an opportunity to build something truly special, not just a successful soccer club, but a franchise that could help redefine what's possible in women's sports,” she said, according to the club, adding that Gotham has made substantial progress but is “just getting started.” She said the goal is to compete with the world's best, attract top talent and build a passionate fan base.
A Valuation Jump That Outlets Call Unprecedented
Outside reporting has attached a specific number to the deal that Gotham's own announcement did not include. Per Yahoo Sports, a person familiar with the deal says the investment values Gotham at $350 million, which the outlet describes as a record-setting figure for a professional women's soccer team. That figure would represent an 84% premium over Forbes' $190 million estimate for the club in April, the same report notes.
Yahoo Sports said Forbes' valuation comparison ranked Gotham eighth among 14 NWSL teams, excluding the Boston and Denver expansion clubs, at a $190 million valuation. The gap between that valuation and the reported new figure underscores how quickly money has moved into the league. Sportico's broader 2026 estimates, cited by the New York Times, put the average NWSL franchise value at roughly $184 million — up 77% from 2024.
Revenue Still Trails Rivals Despite the Jump
Even with the new infusion, Gotham's underlying business numbers have lagged some peers. The club's estimated 2025 revenue was $11 million, well behind the $38 million posted by both Angel City and the Kansas City Current, Yahoo Sports reported. Recent NWSL expansion fees have also climbed fast, with the Times noting Bay FC paid $53 million to join in 2024, Denver's fee reached $110 million in early 2025, and an Atlanta franchise commanded $165 million later that year.
Trophies, Attendance Records and a Move to Queens
The financial story is tied to a run of success on the field. Gotham has won five major trophies over the past three seasons, including two NWSL championships and a continental title, and the club captured its first NWSL Shield in 2026. Gotham is currently the only NWSL team qualified for the inaugural FIFA Women's Club World Cup in 2028, according to the club.
Yahoo Sports and Forbes differ on exactly when Gotham claimed that continental crown — Yahoo Sports reports it came in 2025, while Forbes dates the Concacaf W Champions Cup win to 2024 — and the discrepancy remains unresolved in available reporting.
On-field success has translated into a packed house. Gotham's average home attendance has climbed 73% since 2023, and the club played nine of its 10 most-attended matches ever during that span, per the club's own figures. The New York Times reported that a sold-out Queens Classic matchup against the Washington Spirit at Citi Field drew 42,175 fans — the second-largest regular-season crowd in NWSL history and a New York City women's sports attendance record.
League-wide attendance data adds more context. The Sports Business Journal reported that Gotham's average attendance rose 23% to 10,943 per match in 2026, the largest year-over-year jump in the NWSL, though the outlet attributed that increase almost entirely to the Citi Field match. League-wide, the NWSL averaged 11,003 fans per match in 2026, up 3% year over year and driven largely by expansion club Denver Summit FC's debut, the same outlet reported, while the season also produced a record 2.64 million total attendees and 39 announced sellouts.
That growth trajectory is part of why Gotham is planning a permanent move. The club intends to relocate matchdays in 2028 to New York City FC's Etihad Park in Queens, which will be the first soccer-specific stadium in New York City's history and make Gotham the first women's professional team to call the city home.
New Jersey Training Hub to Anchor Player Development
Away from matchdays, Gotham is also building its first dedicated training facility, based in Whippany, New Jersey. The site will house the club's Pro Player Pathway, described as a development ecosystem meant to provide a structured route from elite youth soccer into the professional game. The club has also launched a youth player development initiative and recently appointed its first presidents of business and soccer operations, part of a broader partnerships push that the club says has grown more than fourfold since 2024.
Inner Circle Sports, a William Blair business, served as financial advisor on the capital raise, while Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as legal counsel. Tisch Blodgett said the club's broader aim is to set a new standard for excellence in women's sports, a framing that ties the fresh capital, the stadium move and the training facility together as pieces of the same long-term bet on Gotham's growth.
