Denver Summit FC controlling owner Rob Cohen has been named to Sports Business Journal’s 2026 Power Players: Innovators in Women’s Sports list, recognizing influential leaders who are shaping the future of women’s athletics through innovation, investment and transformative leadership.
The recognition comes following Denver Summit FC’s historic inaugural season in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), during which the club established new benchmarks for fan engagement, infrastructure investment and the growth of women’s professional soccer.
Under Cohen’s leadership, Denver was awarded the NWSL’s 16th franchise in January 2025, bringing professional women’s soccer to Colorado for the first time. In less than 14 months, the club built its organization from the ground up, assembled its inaugural roster and debuted at home before a record-setting crowd of 63,004 fans at Empower Field at Mile High on March 28, 2026, setting a new NWSL single-game attendance record and a new benchmark for a U.S. women’s professional sports event.
“This recognition is a reflection of what we have been building in Colorado and the incredible growth of women’s sports,” said Cohen. “From the beginning, we believed that investing in women athletes, creating world-class facilities and building meaningful connections with our community could establish a new standard for what a professional sports organization can be. What we have accomplished in such a short period of time is a testament to our players, staff, partners and the fans who have embraced this club. We are proud of the foundation we have built, but we are just getting started.”
Cohen’s vision for Denver Summit FC extends well beyond the pitch, with an unprecedented commitment to purpose-built infrastructure designed to support the long-term success of the club and advance the broader landscape of women’s sports.
In June, the club opened the CommonSpirit Performance Center in Centennial, a state-of-the-art, 20,000-square-foot training facility designed specifically for the needs of elite female athletes. The facility provides world-class training, recovery and performance resources while establishing a permanent home for the club’s sporting operations. Furthermore, the club launched its temporary venue, the 12,372-seat Centennial Stadium, in July, executing seven sellouts of the new venue and 10 overall during the 2026 campaign.
Building on this momentum, the club officially broke ground in October on its permanent stadium at Santa Fe Yards, situated at South Broadway and Interstate 25 in Denver. Designed as a dedicated home for women’s professional soccer, the venue stands as a cornerstone of the club’s long-term vision—delivering a premier athletic destination, a hub for community engagement, and a space for year-round activity.
“Rob’s belief in the potential of women’s sports has been the driving force behind everything we have accomplished at Denver Summit FC,” said Denver Summit FC President Jen Millet. “His willingness to invest in our athletes, our infrastructure and our community from day one has allowed us to build something truly special in Colorado. This recognition is incredibly well deserved and speaks to the lasting impact his leadership will have on our club and the future of women’s professional sports.”
Beyond Denver Summit FC, Cohen has been a longtime advocate for sports and economic development in Colorado, including founding the Metro Denver Sports Commission in 2001. His commitment to bringing major sporting opportunities to the region and investing in infrastructure has helped position Colorado as a destination for professional and international sports.
The Sports Business Journal Power Players: Innovators in Women’s Sports recognition highlights leaders whose work is helping drive the continued growth, visibility and commercial success of women’s sports.
To read Cohen’s full Sports Business Journal profile, click here.