The Heart of It All

Last night, our team watched the U.S. Women’s National Team defeat Canada 1-0 in the SheBelieves Cup. But if you were there with us in the stands, you know that the victory on the pitch was only one part of the story unfolding in Columbus.

Earlier this week, Columbus announced the IgniteHer initiative, a massive step forward in affirming our city’s commitment to celebrating and investing in women’s sports.

Sitting in the stadium, we were surrounded by thousands of Columbus natives—people who grew up watching men’s teams play on this turf, perhaps never believing they would one day see the USWNT headline that same ground. Years ago, it might have felt impossible to imagine Naomi Girma and Rose Lavelle as household names. Today, their stories are woven into the  fabric of our city; their goals are synonymous with an ambition that stretches beyond our wildest dreams.

For the Raise the Bar team, our dreams felt closer than ever last night. The fierce joy—that intoxicating mix of passion, community, and competition—was palpable throughout the stadium.

We know that the thousands of people who felt that electricity with us will be the first people who walk through our doors. They are looking for that collective effervescence—the magic that happens when we watch women smash records and leave everything on the field, together.

They say Ohio is the heart of the nation, and right now, our capital city is beating a new drumbeat for America.

Our team is at the forefront, pouring our time, energy, and passion into building a permanent home for women’s sports fans in Columbus.

Like all great victories, this effort is going to take sweat and sacrifice. It will require belief, teamwork, and endurance. Last night was a visceral reminder of what is possible when we put it all on the line: a collective joy that can shake a stadium and echo through the nation to remind us what happens when she believes in herself.

Are you ready to join us?