Wendy Damonte - Co-Founder & CEO of Reno Pro Soccer | $350,000,000 Mixed-Use Development in Reno, NV

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae speaks with Wendy Damonte, Co Founder and CEO of Reno Pro Soccer, about the structural decisions involved in launching a professional soccer club and stadium anchored mixed use development in Reno, Nevada. Damonte is leading one of the most ambitious emerging projects in the USL ecosystem. The initiative centers on a mixed use district valued at roughly $350 million that combines a professional soccer stadium, entertainment district, hospitality assets, and commercial real estate in the heart of the city. Her path into ownership is unconventional. With experience spanning broadcast journalism, healthcare leadership, and philanthropy, Damonte brings a community first philosophy and a storytelling mindset to building a professional sports organization. The conversation explores several structural themes shaping modern club development: - How local ownership and community accountability influence long term sports infrastructure projects - Why mixed use real estate has become central to the financial sustainability of professional clubs - The strategic transition from a USL League One expansion concept to a USL Championship project - How stadium design is evolving into year round civic infrastructure rather than single purpose sports venues - Capital formation strategies for projects that combine professional sports assets with real estate development - Leadership lessons from building a professional club outside traditional sports industry pathways For investors, operators, and city leaders evaluating professional soccer expansion, the Reno project illustrates how modern clubs are increasingly built as integrated civic developments rather than standalone sports franchises.