Transforming the NWSL: Kansas City Current’s Trailblazing Stadium Initiative
Angie and Chris Long savor their exclusive suite at CPKC Stadium, the innovative home ground of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Kansas City Current. Before matches begin, they often wander through bustling concourses, connect with enthusiastic fans in dedicated supporter zones, or socialize at branded lounges. “There’s a profound gratitude here that we’re eager to share,” Chris Long remarks. The couple took ownership of the franchise in 2020 and personally invested $140 million to bring this stadium vision to life.
The Longs oversee assets exceeding $34 billion as cofounders of Palmer Square Capital Management, headquartered just seven miles from the stadium site. they recognize that CPKC Stadium represents much more than a mere sports arena.Situated along the Missouri River near downtown Kansas City and inaugurated in March 2024, it stands as the world’s first facility purpose-built primarily for a professional women’s sports team.Beyond its historic meaning, this venue has dramatically boosted the Current’s commercial success.
previously sharing Children’s Mercy Park with MLS side Sporting Kansas City, relocating into their own stadium sparked an impressive revenue surge exceeding $20 million during their debut season at CPKC Stadium, Angie Long reveals. By enhancing premium seating options and unlocking fresh income streams-ranging from concessions sales and naming rights deals to hosting third-party events-the club generated approximately $36 million in 2024 revenue. This figure leads all NWSL teams by a wide margin and nearly quadruples the league median of $9.5 million according to recent industry data.such financial growth has elevated their valuation close to $275 million-second only to Angel City FC’s estimated $280 million-even while competing within one of NWSL’s smaller markets.
The ownership duo views this momentum as just beginning its ascent. In 2023 they deliberately limited non-NWSL events on-site to maintain pitch quality and held back some sponsorship activations until gaining deeper market insights. With these restrictions easing now, forecasts suggest revenues could approach $45 million by 2025 while targeting operational break-even-a milestone still elusive for many women’s pro soccer clubs nationwide.
“We’re merely scratching the surface of our potential,” Angie Long states proudly as a lifelong Kansan.
From Early Setbacks To Ambitious Growth Trajectory
Kansas City’s current prominence sharply contrasts with earlier challenges faced by local professional women’s soccer efforts. FC Kansas City debuted as one of eight founding NWSL franchises in 2013 but despite winning back-to-back championships in 2014 and 2015 struggled organizationally after being acquired by Minnesota-based North Central Equity CEO Elam Baer in 2017. That same year saw NWSL reclaim control from FC Kansas City before dissolving it entirely; player rights were transferred to Utah Royals FC expansion team.
The Royals’ tenure ended abruptly amid controversy surrounding owner Dell Loy Hansen following revelations about racist remarks made during his time owning Real Salt Lake-a scandal that forced them back onto market availability by early 2020.[1] Capitalizing on post-2019 Women’s World Cup enthusiasm surges,Chris and Angie Long partnered with Brittany Mahomes alongside her husband Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs quarterback) securing an expansion franchise plus Utah player rights reportedly for around $3 million-relocating operations instantly back home into legends Field (formerly KC Wizards’ MLS venue).
The club posted modest revenues near three million dollars during its inaugural season (2021), reflecting early-stage valuations below five-million-dollar thresholds common among most franchises prior Michele Kang reset expectations via her landmark Washington Spirit acquisition valued at thirty-five-million dollars just one year later.[2]
Owning Facilities: A Pillar For Sustainable Expansion
“Control over facilities has always been crucial,” explains Chris Long regarding their transition from Legends Field initially then permanently moving away from Children’s Mercy Park between seasons ’22-’23 ahead of commencing construction on CPKC Stadium itself starting spring ’22 after unveiling plans fall ’21 alongside opening an eighteen-million-dollar training center nearby Riverside Missouri months earlier.”
A decade-long naming rights agreement was secured with Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway company shortly before March ’24 grand opening where fans witnessed an electrifying victory against Portland Thorns amidst sellout crowds.
Innovative design & Premium Offerings Drive Revenue Growth
Although smaller than previous venues-with capacity capped around eleven thousand five hundred compared to nearly eighteen thousand four hundred seats previously-the new stadium leverages higher ticket prices both single-game & season tickets surpassing eight thousand holders doubling ticket income while selling out every matchday experience consistently throughout ’24 season alone.
- Twelve luxury suites priced annually near one hundred ten thousand dollars each sold out rapidly under long-term contracts spanning eight years;
- Around thirteen hundred premium seats including exclusive loge boxes designed similarly yet more intimate compared against iconic collegiate arenas like Duke University basketball’s Cameron Indoor;
- An adaptable architectural blueprint allowing future expansions anticipated within five-to-seven-year horizon;
- Diversified event hosting beyond soccer such as international rugby fixtures drawing record-breaking attendance surpassing ten thousand fans-with over seventy percent attending first-time experiences significantly boosting brand visibility;
Sponsorship Expansion & Data Ownership Enhance Business potential
Sponsorship partnerships flourished too-with collaborations involving brands like Yeti-and establishing permanent onsite retail outlets dramatically increased merchandise sales compared with prior arrangements lacking dedicated facilities or fan engagement touchpoints.
“Having full control over your ecosystem-from initial marketing contact through post-event feedback-is priceless,” notes Laura Andriani from Two circles sports marketing agency emphasizing how data mastery elevates fan experience which directly correlates with enhanced revenue streams.”
The Complexities Behind Replicating This Success Elsewhere
Kansas city’s pioneering model remains challenging terrain elsewhere due mainly obstacles including land acquisition difficulties; navigating municipal regulations; securing substantial private capital especially when many teams still report annual losses exceeding ten-million-dollars per NWSL estimates.Even billionaire owners like Michele Kang have weighed pros/cons carefully questioning whether additional stadium infrastructure truly benefits markets saturated already with existing venues-as she candidly admits focusing primarily on growing women’s sports rather than immediate financial returns tied solely game-day ticket sales strategies.
A Forward Look: economic Ripple Effects And League Expansion Prospects
Mixed-Use Progress Spurs Community Revitalization Around CPKC Stadium
beyond direct sporting advantages lies an ambitious privately funded urban development project valued near one billion dollars underway as March encompassing twenty-three acres surrounding CPKC Stadium featuring phased additions including bars/restaurants/hotels/offices/residential units expected partially completed next calendar year enhancing foot traffic substantially possibly increasing partnership values significantly-as a notable example studies show integrated districts can boost naming-rights valuations upwards fifty-eight percent when bundled together versus standalone venues alone.[1]
NWSL Expansion Trends Highlight Growing Emphasis On Facility Ownership
This groundbreaking approach influences other emerging franchises such as Denver awarded expansion status early ’25 paying approximately one hundred ten-million-dollar fee planning fourteen-thousand-five-hundred-seat stadium construction concurrently occurring Boston Legacy FC preparing two-hundred-million-dollar White Stadium renovation partly taxpayer-funded despite ongoing legal challenges-all signaling infrastructure importance rising alongside traditional factors like market size/ownership credentials per Commissioner Jessica Berman who envisions eventual growth matching NFL scale up to thirty-two teams prioritizing venue control enabling better broadcast scheduling flexibility without landlord negotiations involved.
Kansas City’s example may not yet rival established men’s leagues where owning world-class arenas is standard practice-but it undeniably sets elevated benchmarks likely becoming norm rather than exception soon according to optimistic voices among leadership ranks.
“This initiative has raised expectations considerably,” concludes Chris Long confidently.”The wave we’ve started is only gathering strength.”
