‘Stars Are Driving Interest’: Gotham FC Co-Owner Supports Both ‘Rodman Rule,’ Salary Cap
Carolyn Tisch Blodgett emphasized the importance of starpower and parity.
Gotham FC co-owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett has expressed her support for both the "Rodman Rule" and salary caps in the NWSL. The "Rodman Rule," also known as the High Impact Player (HIP) rule, allows teams to exceed their salary cap by up to $1 million for star players who meet certain criteria. Tisch Blodgett believes that stars are driving interest in the sport and that a salary cap is crucial for competitive balance, similar to the NFL.
The NWSL already has a salary cap in place, but Tisch Blodgett wants to maintain a hard cap that is not traditionally seen in top European leagues. She thinks this will help the league attract big names from around the world. However, the NWSL Players Association has criticized the HIP rule, claiming it violates the collective bargaining agreement and federal labor law.
Despite this, Tisch Blodgett, who is also a co-owner of the New York Giants, still believes that teams can be creative in attracting star power within a salary cap framework. Gotham FC recently used the HIP rule to re-sign U.S. Women's National Team members Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett. The team is also building a $35 million training facility in Whippany, New Jersey, ahead of the 2027 season, and relocating from Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, to Queens' Etihad Park in 2028.
Tisch Blodgett sees the new location as providing a better experience for fans and players due to its accessibility and proximity to public transportation.
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