bay fc will face Denver Summit FC on Saturday in San Jose as Denver’s new National Women’s Soccer League team plays its first professional match. The season-opening game is set for 7: 30 p. m. ET (4: 30 p. m. MT) at PayPal Park, putting a spotlight on how fans can actually watch. The immediate challenge: there is no single, unified way to view every Denver Summit FC game this season, requiring fans to navigate multiple channels and streaming services.
What’s happening now: kickoff time, location, and viewing options
Denver Summit FC begins its inaugural season on the road in San Jose, opening with an away match against bay fc. The first game will be broadcast on ION, a Scripps-owned channel that is available across a variety of streaming platforms and can also be accessed through television antennas.
For viewers seeking free options, ION is available on services including Tubi and Freevee, and can also be picked up with an antenna. Most Denver Summit FC games this season will air on ION, while some will also stream on NWSL+ and Victory+, both described as free streaming services.
Not every match will be free, however. Other games are set to air across Amazon Prime Video, CBS/Paramount+, and, which may require a cable package or multiple paid subscriptions to access the full schedule.
Bay Fc opener drives watch parties across Denver
With the season starting on the road, Denver Summit FC and local businesses are organizing watch parties for fans who want to take in the opener together. The team’s official watch party is scheduled at Stoney’s Bar & Grill on Lincoln Street, where team representatives are set to hand out swag starting at 5: 30 p. m. ET (2: 30 p. m. MT).
The 14ers, identified as the team’s official supporters group, will host a separate watch party at Number Thirty Eight in Five Points. Additional unofficial gatherings include a screening on McGregor Square’s 66-foot LED screen and a party at the 99ers Sports Bar, described as a women’s athletics bar.
Immediate reactions: players and owners frame the moment
As Denver prepares for its first regular-season match, midfielder Jasmine Aikey is stepping into her pro debut with Denver Summit FC on Saturday. “It’s an honor to be a part of something new that you’re building from the ground up, ” said Jasmine Aikey, midfielder, Denver Summit FC. “You can say, like, ‘I’ve been here from the beginning. ’ I think we have a really good setup from our owners, our staff and vets and the rookies we have coming in. ”
Aikey also pointed to early momentum within the group. “It’s been a really fun first few weeks, and I can see that we’re trending in the right direction. I’m really excited, and I think the people of Denver will be, too, ” she said.
Team ownership has described its commitment in community terms. “It dawned on me quickly that the reason I was interested in the Broncos deal is because it’s my town, ” said Rob Cohen, governor and controlling owner, Denver Summit FC. “It’s our team. It’s our community. And then I started putting these pieces together and thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we brought a woman’s professional team to town?’”
Quick context: a new club, a complicated first season
Denver Summit FC was announced just over a year ago, and Saturday’s road opener launches the club’s first professional season. The team also faces stadium-related complications, with delays in building a temporary stadium in Centennial forcing the club to play in three different home stadiums during its first season.
What’s next after Bay Fc: home debut, ticket surge, and summer reinforcement
After the opener, Denver Summit FC’s first-ever home match is scheduled at Empower Field at Mile High on March 28, followed by later home games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City and, eventually, the new temporary stadium in Centennial. The team has said it has sold more than 50, 000 tickets to the March 28 home debut, with tickets available starting at $25 for upper-deck seats.
On the field, fans are looking for signs that preseason form carries over, after the team won both friendly matches during the Coachella Valley Invitational. The club has also signaled that reinforcements are coming: U. S. Women’s National Team captain and Colorado local Lindsey Heaps is expected to join in the summer. For now, all eyes stay on Saturday night in San Jose—Denver’s first step in the league, and the first test against bay fc at 7: 30 p. m. ET.
