As Centennial celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the city is also stepping into a defining new chapter—one centered around growth, community, and the rising momentum of women’s sports. At the heart of that movement is Denver Summit FC and controlling owner Rob Cohen, whose vision for the club reaches far beyond the game itself.
For Cohen, choosing Centennial as the home for Denver Summit FC was an intentional decision rooted in community from the very beginning.
“The city has a very strong culture around youth sports and soccer,” Cohen says. “That creates a natural foundation for a professional women’s club to thrive.”
Rather than simply bringing a team into an existing market, Cohen and his team wanted to build something that felt deeply connected to the people who live there. Centennial’s strong family presence, growing identity, and commitment to youth athletics made it the ideal fit.
“We saw an opportunity to build something intentionally connected to the community from day one,” he says.
That vision feels especially significant during the city’s milestone anniversary year. While Centennial may still be relatively young compared to many American cities, Cohen sees that as one of its greatest strengths.
“There’s a lot of unique opportunities for us to help define what the future looks like there,” he explains. “We really hope that Denver Summit FC becomes something residents can feel proud to grow alongside and see as part of the community.”
The timing could not be better. Women’s sports—and the National Women’s Soccer League in particular—have experienced extraordinary growth over the past several years. Attendance records continue to climb, brands are investing at unprecedented levels, and national media attention surrounding women’s athletics has never been stronger.
For Cohen, this moment feels different.
“The audience has demonstrated that the demand is real and sustainable,” he says. “Fans are showing up, brands are investing, media coverage is expanding, and the quality of play continues to rise across the league.”
He believes Denver Summit FC has an opportunity to help shape what the future of professional women’s soccer looks like—not only in Colorado, but nationally.
“The NWSL is no longer simply trying to prove that women’s sports can succeed,” Cohen says. “It’s really about sustainable, world-class organizations.”
That philosophy is shaping every decision surrounding the club’s development. Cohen says the organization’s guiding principles center around authenticity, long-term sustainability, and creating trust within the community.
“We want every decision we make to reinforce the connection, the trust, and the pride people will have in the organization,” he says. “We’re not after short-term headlines. We’re after building something that lasts.”
For Cohen, success will never be measured solely by wins or championships, although he is clear that competitiveness matters.
“I don’t think you should be involved in professional sports if you don’t want to win,” he says with a laugh.
Still, the larger vision extends far beyond the field. He hopes Denver Summit FC becomes a gathering place that unites people across generations and backgrounds while creating lasting opportunities throughout the community.
“We want people to look back and say this club created opportunities,” Cohen says. “For athletes, for young girls, for families, for local businesses, and for the broader community overall.”
That sense of purpose is deeply personal. Although Cohen did not grow up playing soccer himself, his daughter’s experience competing at a high level introduced him to the sport in a meaningful way. More importantly, the opportunity to help empower women through athletics immediately resonated with him.
“This is an opportunity to give back to the community that has made a difference for me and my family and my business for generations,” he says. “It’s a chance to be involved in sports, and it’s a chance to empower people—and in this case, empower women.”
Visibility, he believes, is one of the most powerful parts of professional women’s sports.
“We want young girls and young women—and young boys—to grow up seeing professional women athletes not as exceptions, but as role models and leaders in their community,” Cohen says. “Visibility helps create that belief and helps create the dream of possibility.”
As Centennial looks toward its next 25 years, Denver Summit FC hopes to grow alongside it—building not only a successful professional club, but a lasting part of Colorado’s identity and culture for generations to come.