Ground Broken in Mauldin

Ground recently broke in Mauldin, South Carolina on a new soccer stadium scheduled to open in 2026. The 6,300-seat venue will serve as the home for the United Soccer League’s Greenville Triumph SC and the women’s side, Greenville Liberty SC. Beyond professional soccer, the stadium will host youth and college sports, concerts, festivals, marching band competitions, and a variety of community events. Local officials and project backers have positioned the venue as a multi-use gathering space rather than a single-purpose sports facility.

Early versions of the project included plans for a 10,000-seat stadium. Developers later reduced capacity, explaining that a smaller footprint would create a “more intimate experience for fans.” That explanation mirrors language used in similar projects across the country, where scaled-down stadiums support broader development goals rather than maximizing attendance.

Stadiums as Real Estate Plays

The Mauldin project fits squarely into a growing trend in sports development. Soccer franchises at this level increasingly operate less like traditional sports organizations and more like real estate ventures. The stadium acts as an anchor, while surrounding residential, retail, and office space drives long-term revenue. Owners bank on people living, working, and spending money near the venue, regardless of whether a match takes place on a given day.

That model now defines sports development at both the major league and minor league levels. The focus has shifted from wins and losses to land use, foot traffic, and mixed-use density. Mauldin, a town of roughly 25,000 residents, has embraced that approach, meaning local taxpayers now share a financial stake in the outcome of the stadium-village whether they support it or not.

Who Pays for the Project

Public money plays a clear role in the Mauldin development. Local taxpayers will contribute $4 million toward the project. South Carolina residents will add another $10 million through state funding mechanisms. Ownership groups for the soccer franchises will invest $13.5 million, while private investors will supply an additional $45 million. In total, the project relies on a layered funding structure that blends public support with private capital.

The stadium will sit on a six-acre parcel donated by Phil Hughes, who owns Bridgeway Station, the mixed-use development that surrounds the venue. That land donation ties the stadium directly to the broader real estate plan and reinforces the project’s long-term development goals.

Community Vision or Development Deal

Hughes has framed the stadium as more than a sports facility. He described it as a hub for community pride and local growth, designed to serve as the core of Bridgeway Station and reflect where the region is headed. That vision sounds familiar in modern stadium projects, where civic language often accompanies development plans.

At its core, however, the Mauldin stadium remains a real estate-driven deal. Soccer provides the branding and the events calendar, while land development delivers the financial upside. Whether the promised economic benefits reach the broader community will become clear only after the ribbon cutting and several years of operation.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

Ohio Lawmakers Return to Familiar Territory

A new year brings Ohio lawmakers back to work, and once again public funding for sports venues sits near the top of the agenda. State politicians now face renewed pressure to help pay for another major project, this time in Columbus. The owners of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets, along with Franklin County officials, want money to renovate the city’s downtown arena, which first opened in September 2000.

The venue falls under the control of the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, a government entity that also oversees the Greater Columbus Convention Center, a downtown hotel, and several parking garages. Authority officials say the 25-year-old arena needs roughly $400 million in upgrades. To help cover that cost, they want $100 million from Ohio legislators who represent the Columbus area.

How the Renovation Would Be Funded

The proposed funding plan relies on multiple public sources. Beyond the $100 million request from the state, additional money would come from the City of Columbus and Franklin County. Project backers also expect to use another familiar financing tool: a special entertainment or tax district surrounding the arena. Under that model, revenue generated near the building would flow back into paying off renovation debt rather than into general public funds.

Supporters argue the plan protects the arena’s long-term viability and keeps Columbus competitive with newer NHL facilities. Critics point out that these financing structures often shift public tax revenue away from basic services while offering limited economic return.

Political Pressure at the Statehouse

The push for arena money has only just begun, but lawmakers will find it difficult to ignore. Columbus serves as Ohio’s capital city, and history shows the legislature rarely turns down venue requests from major markets. Recent precedent strengthens the case for the Blue Jackets and county officials.

In 2025, Governor Mike DeWine signed a budget that included $600 million in public funding for Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam. That money helped support a proposed football stadium-village in Brook Park. In Cincinnati, Bengals ownership secured public funds from the city, Hamilton County, and the state to renovate Paycor Stadium. Ohio taxpayers also continue to help pay down debt tied to Columbus’ Major League Soccer stadium.

A Growing List of Requests

The Columbus arena proposal does not stand alone. Plans for a new arena in Cincinnati continue to circulate, and project supporters there may soon seek state assistance as well. Taken together, the requests raise questions about how much public money Ohio should commit to sports facilities in a relatively short period of time.

For now, Columbus remains firmly on the clock. Arena backers will lobby lawmakers in the coming months, while state officials weigh another high-dollar commitment to professional sports infrastructure. The decision will test whether Ohio’s long-standing willingness to fund venues has reached its limit.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

Quick Take: The Washington Nationals are finally free from MASN after nearly two decades of disputes, and Monumental Sports Network is positioned to secure their TV rights beginning in 2026. This deal would give Monumental year-round programming across baseball, basketball, hockey, and WNBA, while opening new opportunities for MLB streaming and cross-promotion in the D.C. market NBC4 Washington Awful Announcing MLB USA Today.

Nationals End MASN Era

The Washington Nationals’ long nightmare with MASN is over. After nearly 20 years of legal battles and revenue disputes, MLB announced in March 2025 that the Nationals will be free to negotiate their own local broadcast rights beginning in 2026 MLB USA Today. MASN, a baseball-only outlet controlled by the Baltimore Orioles, lacked year-round programming and limited the Nationals’ ability to grow their brand. Now, the franchise can finally chart its own course.

Monumental Sports Offers Year-Round Programming

Monumental Sports Network, which already airs the Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Capitals (NHL), and the Washington Mystics (WNBA), is the front-runner to land the Nationals’ rights Awful Announcing. Adding baseball would give Monumental a 365-day sports calendar, ensuring fans in the D.C. region have continuous coverage. A year-round schedule means cross-promotion opportunities: Nationals broadcasts could advertise Wizards tickets, Capitals playoff runs, or Mystics championship pushes, while basketball and hockey games could drive fans toward baseball season tickets.

Ownership Connections

Mark Lerner, principal owner of the Nationals, is already a minority stakeholder in Monumental Sports, which strengthens the likelihood of a deal. Ted Leonsis, Monumental’s founder and majority owner, has also emerged as a potential buyer of the Nationals if the Lerner family decides to sell NBC4 Washington Awful Announcing. That ownership overlap makes Monumental not just a broadcast partner but a possible future steward of the franchise.

Monumental and MLB Streaming

Monumental’s ambitions extend beyond cable. The network has invested heavily in direct-to-consumer streaming, aligning with MLB’s push to expand digital access. A Nationals-Monumental partnership could serve as a model for how regional sports networks integrate with MLB’s national streaming strategy, offering fans more flexibility and modern viewing options The Nats Report.

Why This Matters

The Nationals move to Monumental would reshape the D.C. sports media landscape. MASN’s baseball-only focus left gaps in programming and limited fan engagement. Monumental’s multi-sport portfolio ensures constant content, stronger advertising opportunities, and deeper fan loyalty. For the Nationals, this deal represents not just a broadcast change but a chance to fully integrate into the city’s sports ecosystem.

Looking Ahead

Negotiations are ongoing, but industry consensus points strongly toward Monumental Sports Network becoming the Nationals’ broadcast home in 2026. With MASN in the rearview mirror, the Nationals can finally leverage their media rights to grow revenue, expand their fan base, and strengthen their position in the nation’s capital.