Kansas City, Missouri, is setting the stage for an enduring tribute to the sport. In this Midwestern city, construction is underway on the world’s first stadium designed explicitly for a women’s professional sports team.
The Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League will make this cutting-edge $120 million facility their home starting next spring. Initially accommodating 11,500 fans, it’s engineered for potential expansion to 22,000.
This Kansas City project serves as a wake-up call for the entire nation, prompting questions about why other regions aren’t following suit. Notably, Brittany Mahomes, a founding partner of the KC Current, and her husband, Patrick Mahomes, the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs’ MVP quarterback, are among the project’s co-owners and backers, joining a growing list of celebrities supporting women’s soccer.
These celebrities, including Natalie Portman, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Chastain, Naomi Osaka, Chelsea Clinton, and Jenna Bush Hager, are helping reshape the image of women’s soccer ownership. It’s no longer an arena solely for “unknown old guys” but a space where recognizable figures from TV and film are involved, making it cool and fashionable to be associated with women’s sports.
While the Mahomes’ involvement is significant, Mayor Quinton Lucas emphasizes that the conversation in Kansas City centers on the Current and the stadium itself, fostering a connection with the players and the team rather than just the high-profile owners.
The stadium’s location alongside the Missouri River is expected to stimulate around $1 billion in economic growth through planned commercial and retail development, transforming the area into a hub for women’s sports and other economic activities.
This Kansas City project has ignited interest both nationally and internationally, inspiring others to consider similar initiatives. This optimism coincides with record-breaking interest in the Women’s World Cup, further highlighting the increasing investment and enthusiasm for women’s sports.
While Women’s World Cup games draw massive viewership, NWSL games may not reach the same audience size. Nevertheless, the growing interest is driving investments in women’s sports, as exemplified by the Kansas City stadium project.
The hope is that the success of the national team in the quadrennial World Cup, combined with initiatives like the Kansas City stadium, will sustain and expand women’s soccer in the United States. Kansas City Current’s performance in the NWSL may fluctuate, but the stadium project signifies a broader movement, with broader significance beyond just the team’s record. For instance, Dani Welniak, Kansas City Current Vice President for Communications, finds the project deeply moving, especially for younger generations growing up in a world where women having their own training facilities and stadiums is the norm.
