Green Bay, renowned for its rich football legacy, is now setting its sights on expanding its sports repertoire. The city, synonymous with the NFL’s storied Green Bay Packers, is exploring the possibility of introducing professional soccer, thanks to a new agreement with the United Soccer League (USL).
Earlier this month, Green Bay’s city officials approved a strategic move by entering an agreement with the USL to evaluate the potential for both men’s and women’s professional soccer teams in the area. The city council gave its nod to the agreement on November 11, which gives the USL exclusive rights to pursue team opportunities in Brown, Outagamie, Manitowoc, and Winnebago counties. During this exclusivity period, ending in September 2026, the city can’t entertain proposals from other soccer leagues, with a possible extension to September 2027.
Justin Papadakis, USL’s chief real estate officer and deputy CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. He shared with the city council that the league plans to work closely with Green Bay to identify potential stadium locations and investors while engaging with the community for input. Papadakis emphasized the preference for local ownership of the team, which would remain privately held.
In line with the agreement, the USL will bear all pre-development and soccer-related expenditures. Stadium plans require a minimum seating capacity of 5,000, with room for future expansions.
Papadakis acknowledged Green Bay’s fervor for sports, highlighting the city’s pride in its Packers, a sentiment that he believes aligns with the USL’s vision for “community-driven clubs.” He stated, “The city that embodies that the most in the United States is here in Green Bay. To have the opportunity to do that in Green Bay is extremely meaningful, and one that we are excited to put time, energy and money into seeing if we can find the right solution.”
Although the agreement restricts the USL from establishing teams in the specified counties, it leaves room for exploration in other parts of Wisconsin. The USL has already shown interest in Milwaukee, where Milwaukee Pro Soccer announced its debut plans for 2026, though the intended stadium site remains undeveloped.
Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich expressed his support for a potential USL presence in Milwaukee, noting that the prospect of regional rivalries within Wisconsin piqued USL’s interest in Green Bay. Madison already hosts a men’s USL team and anticipates the launch of a women’s team in 2026.
Genrich remarked, “The idea of a Green Bay versus Madison or Green Bay versus Milwaukee is really attractive to them based on the model that they’ve built out in other areas. And (it’s) something that’s really interesting to us, too.”
Feedback from the local community has been largely favorable, according to Genrich. He highlighted the potential for sports-oriented developments to invigorate downtown areas, envisioning an entertainment district teeming with restaurants, hotels, and businesses.
