KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has opened its $120 million home field, CPKC Stadium. The venue, which is located in the Berkeley Riverfront area along the Missouri River and seats 11,500 people, is the first soccer stadium in the world to be designed and built exclusively for women, according to the project team.
Sports Business Journal reports the development of the stadium was privately financed by the team, although ownership eventually requested $6 million in state-issued tax credits to offset an escalated construction budget, according to the Kansas City Star. In April 2023, the Current announced that Canadian Pacific Kansas City, a railway operator whose U.S headquarters is located in Kansas City, had acquired the naming rights to the stadium as part of a 10-year deal.
A host of Kansas City-based firms contributed to the design and delivery of the stadium, and many of these companies have design, engineering and construction teams that are led by women. They include:
- Generator Studio, the architect of record, which handled all architectural and interior design elements of the project.
- Dimensional Innovations, which provided signage, wayfinding, branded graphics and design elements, as well as a variety of sponsorship areas throughout the stadium.
- Monarch Build and JE Dunn Construction, which jointly handled all preconstruction and construction activities, including management of cost and schedule control and installation of a natural-grass, FIFA-quality pitch and aeration system.
- Henderson Engineers, which provided architectural lighting, audio-video, electrical, fire and life safety, mechanical, plumbing, security and telecommunications design services.
“Our vision was to create a player-first experience while equally prioritizing fans,” say Angie and Chris Long, founders and co-owners of the Kansas City Current. “Not only did our Kansas City-based project partners help bring that vision to life, but they elevated it to create an experience unrivaled in professional sports.”
The Current’s ownership group also includes Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany.
— Taylor Williams