The first world stadium built for a professional women's sports team opened in 2024, which means a huge step forward in women's football and athletics in the world.
He also plays a central role in remodeling the urban landscape in downtown Kansas City.
The CPKC stadium of $ 140 million, which houses the current professional women's football team from Kansas City, covers 7 acres, has 11,500 seats, luxury suites and various equipment, including seats on the pitch side, a club fair and community investment areas.
Located in Berkley Riverfront in the city park, the stadium is positioned to play a leading role in the transformation of future development in the city center, which is adjacent to the Missouri river and had not previously been the site of a professional sports hall.
The stadium is only part of a river development project at $ 1 billion out of a million dollars led by Chris and Angie Long and taking place in the coming years.
In recognition of their avant-garde support for professional sports of women and their efforts to embellish and stimulate economic and community development in Kansas City, Ers Midwest appointed the property team of Chris and Angie Long as owner of the year in 2025.
The construction of the second phase, which started at the end of 2024, includes the development of two multifamilial residential buildings containing 430 units, 48,000 square feet of retail and other elements to embellish the edge of the river.
Future phases will start in 2026 and may include additional equipment for mixed river such as office, accommodation and other entertainment uses.
From left to right, Patrick Mahomes, Brittany Mahomes, Chris Long and Angie Long – Co -owners of Kansas City Current.
Photo graceful of Kansas City Current
Background
Longs are the founders of Palmer Square Capital Management, a company created in 2009 which manages $ 33 billion in private wealth. Supporters passionate about female sports, they ventured into the property of the team during the COVVI-19 pandemic.
“I think that, with a project of this size, a better way to do so is to make sure that it speaks to your community and is authentic to culture.”
—Angie, co -owner, Kansas City Current
On December 6, 2020, they acquired the current list of Kansas City, previously the Royals of Utah, and were immediately confronted with the challenge of accommodating the athletes and providing them with a playground.
“We had no options outside a minor league baseball park, but [the Kansas City Monarchs] were kind enough to let us play on it, “recalls Chris Long.” We were moving the pitch mound, put temporary seats and completely transform the field for each match. »»
For a few years, the team also played in a male football team stadium belonging to Sporting Kansas City. However, long was determined to establish a dedicated stadium – a stadium that would not only be used as a first stage for female sports, but also as a world class sports stage.
Learning curve
By deciding to build the CPKC stadium, longs have immersed themselves in learning to build the stadium.
“My wife and I are partners in everything,” explains Chris Long. “We did a stadium and arena tour to get the best ideas. We asked questions [of other owners] About “What have you done well?” Some owners have said that they had not been sufficiently involved in the details. »»
Their next step was to decide a location, which took them to the city center of Kansas City.
“From the start, we wanted to be in a field that could be multimodal and accessible to everyone,” explains Angie Long. “We wanted to be the first stadium in downtown Kansas City, and we really fell in love with the concept of current player to play a role to bring people back to the water and the power of the Missouri river.”
Another attraction was the site of the site in a refurbishment area that the city has been trying to embellish for years.
“It was the icing on the cake,” explains Chris Long. “For each dollar invested, there was an incredible multiplier.”
As attractive as the city center is, it has also created early challenges.
“There were no good files or studies on the site, but due to the lack of infrastructure, we obtained tax credits to help this study and start,” explains Angie Long.
Chris and Angie relax after visiting stages across the country to learn from other owners about the design of the stadium.
Photo graceful of Kansas City Current
Site work
The preparation of the site required collaboration and coordination between the project team, led by a joint venture of two companies based in Kansas City – Je Dunn and Monarch Build. The team worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers.
This collaboration was particularly important when establishing the elevation of the playing surface. The design team had to plan the way in which the potential erects of groundwater and various would have an impact on the design of air drainage systems and on the unique underground ground, explains Scott Sherry, vice-president of Je Dunn.
In addition to coordinating the pitch design, which took into account the fluctuating conditions of the river, a rainwater sewer in 54 inch concrete was discovered, extending from one site of the site to another, and it had to remain in place and active.
“This required detailed coordination of the installation of TAS foundations of TAIr supporting the structure of the tribune bowl which were strategically located around the sewer hose, in many cases, punching the pipe,” explains Sherry. “In addition, due to the age of the sewer and the requirement to leave it in place, the project team had to connect the pipe to ensure its performance for the coming years.”
With a revolution held on October 6, 2022, the Longs and their construction team were subjected to a tight deadline to finish the project by March 16, 2024, when the current had to play its home opening match in their new excavations.
“Because of the accelerated track [schedule]We had to coordinate the deadlines and quickly obtain materials on site for construction. »»
—Courtney Kounkel, owner, monarch
“Because of the accelerated track [schedule]We had to coordinate the deadlines and quickly obtain materials on site for construction, “explains Courtney Kounkel, founder and owner of Monarch Build.” The seats, steps and upright columns had to be ordered before there was a design. “”
Delays in the supply chain, especially during the pandemic, and the fluctuating costs of materials were other challenges than long and their team managed by monitoring prices and buying at the best time.
“We looked at the cost of aluminum and collectively understood the right time to get the best price,” says Kounkel.
Returning to what they learned about paying attention to details during their stadium construction tour, long was actively involved in all the facets of the project.
“Angie met us every week if not every day,” says Kounkel. “The communication lines were always open. There was never a day or time of the day that we could not contact them. ”
The project team provided for the way in which the levels of the river with groundwater and variables would have an impact on the design of the land.
Photo graceful of Kansas City Current
Gathering
Longs wanted the stadium not only a house for the current, but also a place to host other community and sports events. The stadium recently welcomed Kansas City Asian American, originally Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Festival and the National Women's Women's Women's Soccer League X Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, and it will welcome the NCAA Division I for NCAA Division I of NCAA.
Longs also endeavor to make sure that the stadium reflected the unique history and culture of Kansas City.
“I think that with any project of this magnitude, a better way to do so is to make sure that it speaks to your community and is authentic to culture,” explains Angie Long.
She describes the stadium as having a “feeling of art of Kansas City” and says that one of the best barbecue restaurants in the city is in the stadium.
The interest in the stadium, even during construction, was high, and Sherry says that a security plan has been developed and applied for all site visitors.
“With the enthusiasm surrounding the deep influence of this stadium on female sports across the country, there were a notable number of visitors throughout construction,” explains Sherry. “Recognize the living nature of the site, [having an emphasis on] Security for all individuals on the site was essential. »»
The installation, certified by Leed Gold, also emphasizes sustainability, with 180 Rec Pure -R solar panels which produce around 100,000 kWh of energy per year, with additional solar panels at the top of the main door and team store – generating the energy equivalent of 70,000 lb of coal.
Low emissions and local materials have been chosen when possible to alleviate emissions related to transport materials. In addition, the native and low -maintenance factories surround the stage to reduce water consumption and eliminate the need for chemicals.
Given the emphasis on the stadium on female sports support, it is natural that the team that built the stadium had a high representation of women – 50% of construction team leaders were women.
“They were not on this project because they were women. They were part of it because they are good, ”says Sherry.
Crown production
Seeing their vision becoming reality and hearing the crowd encouraging the opening day of the stadium was particularly soft for long.
“There were a lot of joyful tears,” explains Chris Long. “We have put so much blood, sweat and tears and end of nights, just hoping that our community and our players would receive it as we wanted. The opening day exceeded our best dreams, and it was difficult to leave that day. I wanted to sit there forever. ”
