“Whenever you’re up on the stage, you can always see who’s paying attention or not, and what was impressive to me is that everybody was glued to the stage throughout the entire day,” LeBlanc said. “You’re looking at CEOs where it’s almost impossible to get them for a full day because they have to run a business, but everyone was so interested, and the feedback we got was everybody learned something new.”
As panel moderator and ESPN/iHeart Women’s Sports journalist Sarah Spain pointed out, cities that become the epicenters for women’s sports, even temporarily, tend to wear the distinction prominently. For instance, Basel changed its street crossing figures to women’s soccer players for this year’s European Championship in Switzerland, and Indianapolis gave each WNBA team its own street signs for WNBA All-Star Weekend.
However, for Portland to claim the title year-round, it’ll need more events like the Epicenter summit, more support for people in the room, more attention for youth programs, and investments like the Thorns and Fire’s $150 million joint training facility—and more followers for the vocal, engaging general manager out front leading the way.
Veteran leadership
Karina LeBlanc represented Canada at the World Cup five times as a goalkeeper, won a bronze medal with her country at the 2012 Summer Olympics, had a professional sports career spanning 14 years, and ended her playing days with a 2015 Women’s World Cup run in her home country.
But it was the club where she played just one season and 21 matches in 2013—the Portland Thorns—that left a lasting impression far beyond her 2-0 shutout to secure the club’s first NWSL championship.
“One of my memories from playing here was saving penalty kicks, because I was in that North End, and I felt the energy of our city,” LeBlanc said. “No matter where you go, you can get high attendance, but it’s so personal to Portland.”
ADWEEK/Jason Notte