KC Current Releases New Renderings of Riverfront Soccer Stadium

Kansas City Current officials released new renderings Tuesday of their planned women’s professional soccer stadium on the riverfront to go along with its new size and new price tag.

The cost of the stadium planned for the east side of Berkeley Riverfront Park near the Kit Bond Bridge has increased from its original estimate last October of $70 million to $117 million, and its capacity has increased from 11,000 to 11,500 seats.

“Since the project was first announced, the club’s leadership has been working to create a state-of-the-art facility with the goal of creating the best player, fan and partner experience in the world,” the soccer club said in a statement.

The club owners say they still plan to build the facility using private funding although they recently won approval from the Kansas City Council to seek $6 million in state tax credits from the Missouri Development Finance Board.

If approved by the MDFB, those tax credits are expected to yield $12 million in private funds.

The stadium is expected to feature what’s called the Scoreboard Bar overlooking the Missouri River among its amenities. (Rendering by Generator Studio)

The stadium would be the first in the nation built specifically to house a franchise of the National Women’s Soccer League.

The architect for the project is Generator Studios. The construction partners are J.E. Dunn and Monarch Build.

“Elite facilities are an essential part of the future for this team,” team President Allison Howard said in a statement.

“Our new stadium will be an incredible place for athletes to compete at their highest level and the additional amenities will ensure that Kansas City fans have an experience worthy of the passion they bring to every match.”

Views of the Missouri River will be part of the fan experience at the planned stadium. (Rendering by Generator Studio)

The new stadium will feature a restaurant and sports bar at its entrance, and what was described previously by its architect, Tom Proebstle of Generator Studio, as a “massive” bar and gathering space on its riverfront side.

Both the front-entrance sports bar and the riverfront establishments will be open year-round to the public, he said.

The stadium will have a 50-year lease on its 7.1-acre site with Port KC. The public agency has committed to provide 2,000 parking spaces for the facility.

“We will utilize the existing undeveloped parcels for 1,700+ of the spaces temporarily,” Jon Stephens, Port KC executive director, said in a statement.

“Also adding more on-street spaces to hit the 2,000 mark. As new development goes up, shared parking will be added.”

The Concourse Bar will be another feature of the new stadium. (Rendering by Generator Studio)

The new facility, which is anticipated to open in 2024, also will contribute to the maintenance and operation of the streetcar and Berkley Riverfront Park.

Current plans call for the streetcar riverfront extension to be completed in early 2025. In response to the new stadium plan, the streetcar riverfront route is expected to be extended farther east than originally planned.

The revised plan for the half-mile streetcar extension now brings the line to the middle of Berkley Park rather than its earlier planned terminus at its west side.

Streetcar officials estimate the change will bring the streetcar stop 800- to 1,000 feet–about the length of three soccer fields–closer to the new stadium.

The new stadium is expected to be a big draw on the downtown riverfront.

The seating capacity has been increased from the original 11,000 seats to 11,500. (Rendering by Generator Studio)