The proposed South Gateway venue would become home to Forest City Cleveland, expected to enter MLS NEXT Pro in 2027, and Cleveland Astra, scheduled for WPSL Pro competition in 2028. The report says the stadium would initially hold 10,000 spectators, with room to expand toward 20,000.
Its pitch, however, extends beyond soccer. The group reportedly expects the arena to host at least 65 events a year, with schools, collegiate conferences, women’s rugby and women’s lacrosse among the potential users.
That wider calendar could make the naming-rights package more attractive. A partner would not simply be attaching its brand to two emerging teams, but to a broader sports and entertainment project tied to Cleveland’s downtown redevelopment.
The timing is significant. Cleveland has been swept into the World Cup conversation, with public watch parties helping turn international soccer into a local social event. Murphy reportedly described the response as “fantástica”, while more than a thousand people were said to have attended one United States match gathering.
The upcoming final between Spain and Argentina at Public Square offers another major showcase. It gives the Cleveland Soccer Group a chance to connect the proposed stadium with the excitement surrounding the sport’s biggest global stage.
Rock Entertainment Group is expected to lead the sales effort, bringing experience from Cleveland’s professional sports market. Murphy is quoted as being “highly confident” a partner can be secured, but the project must still move from vision to construction.
For potential sponsors, that creates both opportunity and risk. A deal signed early could signal belief in soccer’s future in northeast Ohio, while also tying a brand to a stadium whose timeline remains ahead.
The next storyline is whether World Cup enthusiasm can translate into a naming-rights agreement-and whether Cleveland’s soccer boom can turn this planned venue into a lasting home.