Debut of the stadium: Kansas City's influence on the emerging landscape of women's pro football
In March 2024, the Kansas City Current, a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team, moved back to its home city from Utah and opened the doors of its brand-new stadium, CPKC. The stadium, built at a cost of $140 million by Chris and Angie Long, has already proven to be a game-changer for the team.
Owning and managing a stadium offers significant financial benefits for NWSL teams, as it provides direct control over revenue streams such as ticketing, concessions, merchandise sales, and venue management. For the Kansas City Current, this has translated into increased revenue beyond just game-day tickets. The team sold out every match in 2024, more than doubling its ticket revenue.
CPKC, with its 11,500 seats, has also served as a home base for the team, helping to strengthen fan loyalty and community ties. This has resulted in an increase in merchandise revenue and partnership deals with brands like Yeti. In 2024, the team generated a record-breaking $36 million in revenue, the highest in the NWSL.
The stadium's impact extends beyond the team's financial performance. CPKC is the first stadium built specifically for a professional women's sports franchise, a testament to the Longs' commitment to women's sports. The stadium has also attracted new fans, with over 70% of the spectators at the international rugby football match held at CPKC in March 2024 being first-time fans.
The CPKC stadium project is part of a larger mixed-use development, funded by private capital totaling $1 billion. This development will bring bars, restaurants, hotels, office, and residential complexes to 9.3 hectares of adjacent land, further boosting the local economy.
The stadium's success is not unique to the Kansas City Current. Major sports franchises in Kansas City, such as the Chiefs and Royals, generate nearly $70 million annually in city, county, and state taxes through their use of the Truman Sports Complex. This tax revenue supports public services, demonstrating how stadiums can be economically valuable local assets.
However, funding stadium projects often involves complex negotiations involving tax subsidies, sales tax arrangements, and state funding bills. These funding mechanisms can affect the financial stability and long-term liabilities of the ownership group. Public scrutiny and political challenges often accompany stadium financing proposals, as seen in Kansas City.
Despite these challenges, the Longs aim to maintain a dynamic atmosphere and an aura of exclusivity for CPKC. The stadium project also allows for future expansion within the next 5 to 7 years. The initiative is planned in three phases, with the first set to be completed next year.
As the Kansas City Current continues to thrive in its new home, it serves as a shining example of the potential benefits of stadium ownership for NWSL teams. The team's current valuation of $275 million is a testament to its success. Meanwhile, other NWSL teams, such as the Denver NWSL franchise, are planning to build new stadiums, hoping to replicate the Kansas City Current's success.
The Kansas City Current, having realized increased revenue beyond just game-day tickets, sold out every match in 2024 at their new stadium, CPKC. This new football stadium, a first for a professional women's sports franchise, has also attracted new sports fans, with over 70% of the spectators at the international rugby football match held at CPKC being first-time fans.
