KC Current Gets Saucy with Joe’s KC

Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que will storm the pitch as the first restaurant at the new KC Current professional women’s soccer stadium scheduled to open on the downtown riverfront in March.

“Telling our local food story to the world, we are thrilled to feature Joe’s Kansas City BBQ at the KC Current stadium,” Colby and Megan Garrelts, chef-partners for KC Current Stadium and owners of Rye said in a statement.

“Joe’s commitment to excellence will give soccer fans a sample of why Kansas City is the BBQ capital!”

The menu at the in-stadium venue will feature the iconic Joe’s KC Z-man sandwich in both chicken and brisket with select sides, according to a press release. Joe’s will occupy a designated space on the northeast side of the stadium.

A spokesperson for KC Current said the barbecue spot also is expected to be open on non-game days as well as during matches, but hours have not been determined.

And in other KC Current news, night-time observers passing by on I-29/35 can enjoy a fascinating light show. Since September, the interior of the stadium is being bathed in brilliant magenta LED lights intended to help grow its grass field.

Joe’s KC was founded by Jeff and Joy Stehney in 1996. Their original restaurant, located in the gas station at the corner of 47th Avenue and Mission Road, in Kansas City, Kansas, has earned scores of local, regional, and national accolades, according to the release.

The 11,500-seat KC Current stadium on the riverfront is scheduled to open in March.

In 2006, the Stehneys opened a second restaurant at 11950 Strang Line Road, in Olathe, Kansas, and in 2012, a third restaurant was opened at 11723 Roe Avenue, in Leawood, Kansas.

While Joe’s KC supplies barbecue to the County Line Ice House restaurant in the Power & Light District, the stand-alone operation at the soccer stadium will be its first in Missouri.

“With Joe’s joining us at our world-changing stadium, we are ensuring our goal of staying authentic to Kansas City,” KC Current President Allison Howard said in a statement.

“This is the first of many unique KC food and beverage options that will be available to all our guests at our stadium that will shape an incredible all-senses experience for our fans on match days.”

The new KC Current stadium expected to open in March. (Rendering from KC Current)

As an official partner, Joe’s Kansas City will receive use of marks, in-game signage, hospitality, social posts and more, according to the release.

The club will make more announcements regarding the food and beverage experience at the stadium in the coming weeks on Teal Tuesdays.

Founded in December 2020, the Kansas City Current is led by the ownership group of Angie Long, Chris Long, Brittany Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes. The team competes in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

The 11,500-seat stadium is the first to be built solely for a professional women’s team in the country.

It’s part of an ongoing effort to develop the long-dormant Kansas City riverfront and the sports facility is expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in spin-off development including residences, retail, hotel and office space.