--- title: Michael Murphy, Cleveland Pro Soccer CEO & Co-Founder, Joins Wills & Snyder in the Morning description: Michael Murphy, Cleveland Pro Soccer CEO & Co-Founder, joins Wills & Snyder in the Morning image: https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/hubfs/Screenshot%202024-02-27%20at%206.17.17%20PM.png --- [![Crests for Forest City and Cleveland Astra](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Cleveland%20Soccer%20Crests-1.png?width=208&height=140&name=Cleveland%20Soccer%20Crests-1.png "Crests for Forest City and Cleveland Astra")](https://clevelandprosoccer.com/?hsLang=en) [![Cleveland Soccer Crests](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Cleveland%20Soccer%20Crests-1.png?width=208&height=140&name=Cleveland%20Soccer%20Crests-1.png "Cleveland Soccer Crests")](https://clevelandprosoccer.com/?hsLang=en) - PRO TEAMS › - [Cleveland Astra](https://clevelandastra.com/) - [Forest City Cleveland](https://www.forestcitycle.com/) - ABOUT › - [Our Story](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/about-csg?hsLang=en) - [The Kickout](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/kickout?hsLang=en) - [Cleveland Soccer Stadium](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/stadium?hsLang=en) - [Careers](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/careers?hsLang=en) - [SEASON TICKETS](https://www.shop.clevelandprosoccer.com/) - TEAM SHOPS › - [Cleveland Astra Shop](https://arrivoathleticwear.com/astra) - [Forest City Shop](https://arrivoathleticwear.com/collections/forest-city-fc-official-team-shop) # Michael Murphy, Cleveland Pro Soccer CEO & Co-Founder, joins Wills & Snyder in the Morning ![]({alt=TEST%20(2),%20height=500,%20max_height=500,%20max_width=1600,%20size_type=auto,%20src=https://23207348.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23207348/TEST%20(2).png,%20width=1600}) ![TEST](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/hubfs/TEST.png) # Michael Murphy, Cleveland Pro Soccer CEO & Co-Founder, Joins Wills & Snyder in the Morning [WTAM](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/news/author/wtam) Feb 27, 2024, 6:18:24 PM An Ohio-area group announced on Tuesday its intentions to bring a NWSL expansion team to Cleveland. The Cleveland Soccer Group and the Rock Entertainment Group have launched a campaign called “Back the Bid,” with the intention of adding a professional women’s soccer team in Cleveland. The Rock Entertainment Group is also part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League. “We need to show the league that Cleveland is the best market with the best fans,” CEO of the Cleveland Soccer Group Michael Murphy said in a press release. “Clevelanders have always stepped up for our great city. Just like they rallied to bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here, we know we can count on their support, enthusiasm, and unique Cleveland grit. Our mission is to unite soccer fans and lovers of Cleveland by ‘Backing the Bid.’” The NWSL will have 15 teams by 2026, and a Cleveland group would like Ohio to have the 16th team. The NWSL currently has 12 active teams, with three more expansion teams arriving by the 2026 season. Of those teams, though, there are none in Ohio, with the nearest team being Racing Louisville FC.  The league announced in May that it would like to have 16 teams by the 2026 season, and Boston already won the rights to the 15th organization in September. Cleveland is host to three men’s professional teams, while Cincinnati has three and Columbus owns two. However, Ohio does not have a processional women’s team in either basketball or soccer. “Cleveland has a storied history of representing major sports and events on a national stage,” David Gilbert, President and CEO of Destination Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, said. “The NWSL would find in Cleveland a committed city and fan base that would support its players and make an ideal partner to continue the long-term growth of the sport.” ## Read On ### [Cleveland’s new MLS NEXT Pro men’s soccer team gets a raucous, passionate welcome from city officials](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/news/clevelands-new-mls-next-pro-mens-soccer-team-gets-a-raucous-passionate-welcome-from-city-officials?hsLang=en) [This article was originally published by cleveland.com.](https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2022/11/clevelands-new-mls-next-pro-mens-soccer-team-gets-a-raucous-passionate-welcome-from-city-officials.html) Cleveland will field an[MLS NEXT Pro](https://www.mlsnextpro.com/)men’s... ### [Cleveland Lands MLS NEXT Pro Expansion Team, Will Start Play in 2025](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/news/cleveland-lands-mls-next-pro-expansion-team-will-start-play-in-2025?hsLang=en) [This article was originally published by Cleveland Scene.](https://www.clevescene.com/news/cleveland-lands-mls-next-pro-expansion-team-will-start-play-in-2025-40841246?media=AMP+HTML) Cleveland has landed an expansion team... ### [Cleveland lands MLS Next Pro expansion team; will begin play in 2025](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/news/cleveland-lands-mls-next-pro-expansion-team-will-begin-play-in-2025?hsLang=en) [This article was originally published by WKYC.](https://www.wkyc.com/amp/article/sports/soccer/cleveland-soccer-group-special-announcement/95-611addfa-f93c-447e-a1c5-da6831e3c789) Professional soccer is returning to[Cleveland](https://www.wkyc.com/cleveland). On... [![Cleveland Soccer Crests](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Cleveland%20Soccer%20Crests-2.png?width=178&height=120&name=Cleveland%20Soccer%20Crests-2.png "Cleveland Soccer Crests")](https://clevelandprosoccer.com/?hsLang=en) Cleveland Soccer Group is the ownership group for two pro soccer teams: [Forest City Cleveland](http://forestcitycle.com/) (men's) and [Cleveland Astra](http://clevelandastra.com/) (women's). We aim to be the North Star of soccer in Northeast Ohio and are working to increase access to the game and improved community outcomes through the on-the-ground work of our Foundation. 2900 Detroit Ave, Cleveland, OH [Privacy Policy](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/hubfs/soccer_privacy_policy.txt?hsLang=en) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/clevelandprosoccer) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/cleprosoccer) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/clevelandprosoccer/) - ABOUT - [About Cleveland Soccer Group](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/about-csg) - [Careers](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/careers) - [Mini Pitch Initiative](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/mini-pitch-initiative) - [News](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/news) - TEAMS - [Cleveland Astra (W)](https://clevelandastra.com/) - [Forest City Cleveland (M)](https://www.forestcitycle.com/) - CONNECT - [Get Involved](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/get-involved) - [Media Kit](https://www.clevelandprosoccer.com/media-kit) Copyright © Cleveland Professional Soccer | Cleveland Soccer Group. 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